The Battle for Religious Freedom Begins

From The Revered Review:

What has been called a fight for religious freedom for Catholics all over America has begun and voices from small towns to big cities are being heard. Catholic bishops, religious leaders and those of the Catholic faith have expressed outrage at being forced to go against their religious beliefs.

In letters, online blogs, emails, and videos, many are calling a mandate under Obamacare an attack on the Catholic religion—and an attack all religious freedoms— and a violation of the Constitution.
Under the new healthcare law, all employers—including Catholic employers— must provide employees with health care that covers sterilization, drugs that induce abortions, and contraception—which are all against the beliefs of the Catholic religion.

Despite efforts by the Catholic Church for an exemption from this mandate, the Obama Administration did not waiver. Twelve days ago, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter indicating that the mandate would not be withdrawn and nonprofits and the Catholic Church would have a year to adapt to the rule.

Bishops Blast Rule in Obamacare

Now, the outrage by the Catholic Church is palpable. Bishops across the country wrote letters to those in their diocese. Some priests even spoke from the pulpit on mass this past Sunday, speaking about this fight for religious freedom. Letters from bishops appeared in many weekly bulletins across the country, blasting the mandate in the health care law that would force Catholics to go against their beliefs.

Calling for members of the Church to join him in “prayer and in an all-out effort to have our freedom restored,” Bishop David M. O’Connell, of the Diocese of Trenton, wrote a letter that was handed out after Sunday masses. (Read entire article.)

 Some reflections from Stephanie Mann about how this has happened before. Share