Life, Justice and Peace News
February 2012URGENT
Legislation is being
considered in Washington State which would require
all private health insurers to cover abortion
services if they offer maternity care. HB 2330 and
SB 6185 would not offer an exemption to employers
who are morally opposed to abortion, nor to
employees who do not wish to pay premiums to cover
abortion services. The abortion coverage
mandate not only violates a fundamental right to
religious liberty, but also stands in direct
violation of federal law. The “Hyde/Weldon
Amendment” of the Labor/HHS appropriations bill of
2011 forbids any federal, state, or local
government from creating an abortion coverage
mandate. Violation of the Hyde/Weldon Amendment
risks all federal funding from the appropriations
bill for health, education, and labor. Please
contact your state Representatives and Senator
and urge them to uphold rights of conscience and
respect federal law by voting NO on HB 2330 and SB
6185. January 201225 January HHS Rule on Contraceptave Marriage and event at St. Michael's Parish regarding Marriage
I am forwarding you a message from USCCB concerning last Friday’s announcement about the HHS rule on contraceptive coverage. As John Carr, Executive Director, Justice, Peace and Human Development, writes, “In short, the decision of the Administration is bad morality, bad policy and, for that matter, bad politics.” His message also has links to resources and background information.
St. Michael’s Parish in Olympia will hold an event titled, “Why is Marriage Only Between a Man and a Woman?” next Tuesday, January 31st, at 7 p.m. See St. Michael’s website for flier and details.
Please also remember to register by Feb. 1st for Catholic Advocacy Day in Olympia on Feb. 15th. In Christ’s peace, Jim
From: JPHD-USCCB
[mailto:jphd-usccb@usccb.org] January 25, 2012 Dear colleagues,
On January 20th, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a stunning and extremely disappointing final rule mandating that contraception and sterilization be included at no cost to the insured in all health care plans. The very narrow religious exemption was unchanged from the interim final rule, only offering a year of "grace" to comply.
This means that most Catholic ministries would be compelled to provide and pay for "services" (i.e., sterilization and contraception, including some abortifacients) that are a clear violation of Catholic teaching. It rests on the appalling notion that the federal government can tell religious ministries what is religious. In this case, it says that a ministry is not religious if it serves or employs people who are not members of that religious body. For us, it is precisely our faith that calls us to "serve the least of these" without regard for their religious affiliation. We serve the poor, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, andeducate children "not because they are Catholic, but because we are." In short, the decision of the Administration is bad morality, bad policy and, for that matter, bad politics.
President of the USCCB, Cardinal-delegate Timothy Dolan commented "Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."
The bishops along with Catholic partners including the Catholic Health Association, Catholic Relief Services, Catholic CharitiesUSA, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and other Catholic and religious allies, had vigorously argued against the mandate and encouraged a broader exemption that would include religious institutions and ministries.
The threat to our religious liberties is very real and challenging. The government should not be forcing us to choose between putting our faith into action and violating our consciences. Likewise the Administration's action poses real threats to the Churchs capacity to offer adequate health care coverage for those who serve in our charitable and educational ministries in ways that reflect our teaching and moral principles. This decision tries to force us to choose between these two principles. The rule would go into effect for religious employers in August 2013 and employers' new policies would have to be implemented by January 2014. The purpose of the year is supposedly to allow us time to comply, but in fact we have a year to reverse, repeal or change this unjust mandate. Included in this message are links to several statements, fact sheets and other materials that can assist you in helping to fix this injustice. For those of you who will be joining us for the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering next month, you will have the opportunity to make the case to Congress.
We appreciate all you do to defend human life and dignity, to protect religious liberty and Catholic identity. We ask you to join with us and others inside and outside our community of faith to resist and reverse this appalling decision that threatens our freedom to serve those who need our help the most.
John Carr Executive Director Justice, Peace and Human Development and Kathy A. Saile Director of Domestic Social Development
Links: USCCB statetment on HHS Rule:
http:/
Video of Cardinal-Designate Dolan,
President of the USCCB, speaking about HHS
rule:
http:/
Catholic Relief Services' statement on
HHS rule:
http:/
Catholic Charities USA's statement on
HHS rule:
http:/
Michael Sean Winter's Distinctly
Catholic blog commenting on HHS Rule:
http:/ Washington Post editorial on HHS rule:
http:/
USCCB Comments filed on proposed HHS
rule issued in August 2011:
http:/
USCCB fact sheet on HHS rule: Click here
Archbishop Sartain for Catholic Advocacy Day As Archbishop Peter
Sartain mentioned in his homily during Tuesday’s
Mass for Life, the continuing Washington State
budget crisis is threatening tens of thousands of
our fellow citizens by eliminating many of the
programs they rely on to feed and shelter their
families. On Wednesday, February 15, we have
an opportunity to advocate for Economic Justice
for All. Please encourage at least five others
in your parish to join Archbishop Sartain for
Catholic Advocacy Day. The registration
deadline has been extended until February 1st.
An updated flyer is on the
Archdiocesan website and has other details.
Please note that the Day will start at St. Michael
Parish in Olympia with the Archbishop saying Mass
at 8:30 a.m. The Archbishop’s keynote address and
legislative briefings will start at 9:30 a.m.
Around lunchtime, we will make our way to the
Capitol for meetings with our legislators. As one way to prepare
for Catholic Advocacy Day, St. James Cathedral is
offering the following program: Economic Justice For
All: A Panel Discussion – St.
James Cathedral Life, Peace and Justice Committee
invite you to Economic Justice For All: A Panel
Discussion on Monday, January 30 from 7 - 9 p.m.
at Cathedral Hall, Ninth Ave. and Columbia
Street, Seattle. Josephine Tamayo Murray, Vice
President for Social Policy, Catholic Community
Services of Western Washington, will moderate.
Panelists include Sr. Linda Haydock, SNJM,
Director, Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center,
who will speak on "Economic Justice for All ~25
Years Later"; Michael Reichert, President, Catholic
Community Services of Western Washington, who will
speak on "The Effects of the Ongoing Recession on
the Poor"; Tom Campion, Founder and Chairman,
Zumiez Corporation, who will speak on "How Can
Businesses Support Economic Fairness?"; and Sr.
Sharon Park, OP, Director, Washington State
Catholic Conference, who will speak on "Advocacy
for the Common Good in the 2012 Washington State
Legislative Session".
National Migration
Week, January 8-14 – “Welcoming
Christ in the Migrant” is this year’s theme and
more information and resources can be found on the
USCCB website.
February 2012Join the Justice and Peace
Commission for Catholic Advocacy Day –
February 15 All parish members are
invited to participate in Catholic Advocacy Day –
an annual event to ensure that the Gospel message
to care for our brothers and sisters is carried to
our legislators. Come to the State Capitol for a
program and legislative briefing before scheduled
appointments with your state legislators. Wednesday, February
15 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Chartered busses for
registered participants (departing from Seattle,
Bellevue and Tacoma) To register:
Contact Intercommunity Peace and Justice
Center:
ipjc@ipjc.org or 206.223.1138 by January 16th.
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