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
