Rulings “stand in grave violation of our most precious first amendment guarantees.”
Religious communities around the country are joining the U.S. Bishops in opposing the HHS mandate of the Obama administration that demands that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans.
The CMSWR has led the way among religious communities, issuing a statement that asks other citizens, Catholic and otherwise, to rescind the ruling.
“We believe that our first and most fundamental freedom, the right to religious liberty and freedom of conscience, is gravely violated by the ruling announced on January 20th by the Department of Health and Human Services. The accommodation announced by President Obama on February 10th does not respect nor safeguard our rights or the rights of others.”
Religious communities throw their support
Several communities for whom we at Vocation Promotion provide web and promotion services have issued similar statements in support of the bishops. The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, with its motherhouse in the Chicago area, have issued such a statement, asking for religious freedom and recalling persecutions from various governments where the congregation was founded in Poland.
The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist, in Independence, MO now carry a supporting statement on their website. They say that the rulings “stand in grave violation of our most precious first amendment guarantees of religious liberty and freedom of conscience.”
The Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, of Kansas City, MO, have issued a statement quoting Pope Benedict XVI, who said that “the entire Catholic community in the United States” should recognize and counter these threats.
NC Register publishes list
Ann Carey, an expert observer of religious communities, is the author of an article to be published in April in the National Catholic Register a list of communities who have supported the U.S. Bishops in this cause. She has told us yesterday that the list is not exhaustive. She will see if the Register will update the list as new communities support the bishops.
To update your website with a supporting statement, or publicize your action on the internet, call Kevin J. Banet at 708-393-4098, or email us from our Contact Us page. Let us know by March 31, and we will ask Ms. Carey to add your community to the list if the Register updates it. In any case, we will list your community and give you a link from this website.
Resource
U.S. Bishops, “Bishops Continue Fight Against Coercive HHS Mandate.”
