Saturday, October 20, 2012

Obamacare Wielded as Anti Religion “Cultural Bulldozer”

From National Review Online:
Some might dismiss these employers’ concerns because birth control is hardly controversial outside of orthodox religious circles. But these birth control cases are stalking horses for far more intrusive violations of religious liberty to come, e.g., requiring businesses to provide free abortions to their employees. Consider the Democratic party’s 2012 platform:
The Democratic party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. [Emphasis added.]
If Democrats regain the control of Congress and the presidency they enjoyed in 2009 and 2010, look for the Affordable Care Act to be amended consistent with their platform. After that, it won’t take long for HHS to promulgate a free abortion rule along lines similar to the free birth control mandate.

More thoughts on Election 2012

Included in the St. Joan of Arc Knights of Columbus (Arvada, Colorado), November 2012 Newsletter:


Vote Pro-life, Pro-family, Pro-Freedom of Religion
Four generations -- We're all for pro-life (Summer, 2010)
With the 2012 election only days away, we need to be reminding friends and family to vote, and vote pro-life, pro-family, and pro-Bill of Rights freedoms. Perhaps we ourselves need to be reminded often of the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution, especially the First:
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Read those first two phrases of the First Amendment again. Not only is the government forbidden to recognize the priority of any religion, neither is it to inhibit its free exercise. Yet the Health and Human Services (HSS) Department of the Federal Government is requiring employers to provide contraception, sterilization, and hormonally induced abortions at no charge to employees. There is no religious exemption under the new rule, except for individual churches and their employees who are responsible only for religious services. Catholic schools, hospitals, and nursing homes are not exempt. Neither are faithful Catholic employers, from officers of insurance companies to plumbing company owners. This rule violates the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the conscience of faithful Catholics, whether employed by the Church or private employers. Even many other Christian churches are also threatened by this rule.
For much too long states have been allowing virtually all abortions and even financing some of them, as well as providing contraceptives and sterilization for Medicaid clients. Now the Federal government is compelling and expanding such “services” under the HHS mandate.
There is an increasing threat to natural marriage as well, which could become stronger in the next few years. Marriage is a faithful union of one man and one woman from the beginning of recorded history. To recognize same-sex unions is unnatural and inconsistent with God’s plan for human kind.
These anti-life, anti-family, anti-religion policies need to end. State and federal government agencies should be nurturing and protecting new life rather that ending it before birth. Pro-life health services from pre-conception through delivery and post natal are essential for low to middle income families.
The right to life is the first natural right which every newly conceived person acquires from God. This right supersedes political parties and union interests. The pro-death, anti-religion culture is attempting to expand its hold on American culture through the upcoming election. We cannot let this happen.
Deacon Rex Pilger
St. Joan of Arc Church
Arvada, Colorado