Cardinal Dolan's letter to Bishops about lecture from Obama administration (Representatives, Iran)
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A very interesting letter that was necessary since what had gone on in Washington after the agreement of the administration with the Church to work out their differences got covered up by the Fluke incident. Religious freedom got covered up in the media by the story about women's rights. In fact, it has gone so far as having the Press Secretary say that all those rules have been settled into the parts of printed actions and the Church has been "handled". I think that the Bishops will not accept that crap since most protestant groups have agreed to stick with them.
You can read the entire letter, scary as it is, by clicking on the word here at the end of the article. HOwever, to save many the trouble of so doing here is a very important of the letter.
Since January 20, when the final, restrictive HHS Rule was first announced, we have
become certain of two things: religious freedom is under attack, and we will not cease our
struggle to protect it. We recall the words of our Holy Father Benedict XVI to our brother
bishops on their recent ad limina visit: “Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to
limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion.” Bishop Stephen Blaire
and Bishop William Lori, with so many others, have admirably kept us focused on this one
priority of protecting religious freedom. We have made it clear in no uncertain terms to the
government that we are not at peace with its invasive attempt to curtail the religious freedom we
cherish as Catholics and Americans. We did not ask for this fight, but we will not run from it.
As pastors and shepherds, each of us would prefer to spend our energy engaged in and
promoting the works of mercy to which the Church is dedicated: healing the sick, teaching our
youth, and helping the poor. Yet, precisely because we are pastors and shepherds, we recognize
that each of the ministries entrusted to us by Jesus is now in jeopardy due to this bureaucratic
intrusion into the internal life of the church. You and I both know well that we were doing those
extensive and noble works rather well without these radical new constrictive and forbidding
mandates.
To me this is the scariest part of the letter and anyone should want to read the whole letter to see what the administration is trying to do to Catholics.
At a recent meeting between staff of the bishops’ conference and the White House staff,
our staff members asked directly whether the broader concerns of religious freedom—that is,
revisiting the straight-jacketing mandates, or broadening the maligned exemption—are all off the
table. They were informed that they are. So much for “working out the wrinkles.” Instead, they
advised the bishops’ conference that we should listen to the “enlightened” voices of
accommodation, such as the recent, hardly surprising yet terribly unfortunate editorial in America. The White House seems to think we bishops simply do not know or understand
Catholic teaching and so, taking a cue from its own definition of religious freedom, now has
nominated its own handpicked official Catholic teachers.
Last edited by roysoldboy; 03-10-2012 at 10:38 PM..
The Cardinal is a fighter. Obama is messing with the wrong guy!
I think that if you read the last quote of the letter in my post you may see that he is concerned, very concerned about what they think they have accomplished up to now. It may take much more than just words for Cardinal Dolan to get things back close to even where religious freedom is concerned.
It would be nice if Cardinal Dolan would in fact follow CHURCH doctrine, instead of picking and choosing what he would like to follow.
Could you tell me what you see him ignoring? Is it anything to do with what the folks down at the White House have told him is how he is to run the Church?
Go ahead and read the link and then try to talk out your hindside some more.
Is anyone trying to outlaw Catholicism or Protestantism? NO
Is anyone forcing Catholics or Protestants to convert to another religion or renounce theirs? NO
Is anyone forcing Catholics or Protestants to use birth control or have abortions? NO
So how please is their "religious freedom" endangered?
Ok what the hell are you talking about? What have you been smoking? How am I denying Christians freedom of religion? What are you talking about? What freedom of religion is being breached?
You have refused to read any part of Cardinal Dolan's letter and you want to talk about freedom of religion. Maybe you could read the part about how the staffers at the White House told the Catholic representatives that they didn't really know what Catholicism is all about. They even tried, according to Dolan, to appoint their own Catholic teachers. If you can't at least look at the situation then you have no idea why freedom of religion is involved here.
Ok what the hell are you talking about? What have you been smoking? How am I denying Christians freedom of religion? What are you talking about? What freedom of religion is being breached?
What Atheist forget is the Constitution gives you the right to be an Atheist. Many countries or in the past you would be persecuted and killed for your beliefs.
You benefit from our right to religious freedom more than anyone. Try being an Atheist in Iran.
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