Transcript Click to add Title - Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis

Religious Liberty & The HHS
Mandate
by
Sarah Swaykus
Program Director
Respect Life Apostolate
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Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom you have set us free in
Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).
We praise and bless you for the gift
of religious liberty,
the foundation of human rights,
justice, and the common good.
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to
protect and promote our liberties;
by your grace may we have the
courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in
this blessed land. We ask this
through the intercession of Mary
Immaculate, our patroness, and in
the name of your Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with
whom you live and reign,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen
Education
Spiritual
Pastoral
Public
Policy
Education
Pastoral
Care
Spirituality
Public Policy
Promote deeper
understanding of
the sanctity of
human life and
the humanity of
unborn children;
Includes
emotional
support,
counseling,
material and
spiritual aid for
those
experiencing
pregnancyrelated problems;
for all who have
been involved in
abortion;
Directed to
participation in
the sacramental
life of the
Church;
Efforts directed to
restoring legal
protection to the
lives of unborn
children and
those vulnerable
to pressures to
end their lives by
assisted suicide,
euthanasia;
the moral evil of
intentionally
killing innocent
human beings—
whether at the
beginning of life
or at its end;
for the disabled,
sick, and dying,
and their families
and caregivers;
And in programs
of communal
and individual
prayer,
And providing
morally
acceptable
alternatives to
abortion and
assisted suicide.
8TH GR. ESSAY CONTEST

Fostering awareness of the need to restore
legal protection to the lives of unborn children
and to safeguard in law the lives all including
of those who are chronically ill, disabled, or
dying (Education).

Informing students of the political and social
trends in society and, as citizens, how they can
participate in the political process to take
strides to challenge the hazardous trends.
(Public Policy).

Sponsor school wide programs of prayer to
encourage a great awareness of the
teachings of the faith, to pray for mothers and
their unborn children, those who are disabled
or dying, prisoners on death row and those
they have harmed (Spirituality).

Support comprehensive maternity support
services, as well as post-abortion counseling
and reconciliation programs (Pastoral Care).

A twofold educational effort

Education programs should include:
› Biblical and theological confirmation of to the sanctity and dignity of human life.
› Scientific facts that support the full humanity of unborn children.
› American founding principles that affirm unchanging truths about the human person.
›
Society’s Responsibility to never purposely to destroy innocent human life.
›
Information on Catholic teaching regarding endoflife decision making.
› Information about effective, compassionate, and morally acceptable means to help
one directed to Catholic communities,
one directed to the general public is most efficacious.
women experiencing difficulties during and after pregnancy.
›
Help for those who suffer from the consequences of abortion.
“In this mobilization for a new culture of life
no one must feel excluded: Everyone has
an important role to play. Together with
the family, teachers and
educators have a particularly
valuable contribution to make.
Much will depend on them if
young people, trained in true freedom,
are to be able to preserve for themselves
and make known to others new, authentic
ideals for life, and if they are to grow in
respect for and service to every other
person, in the family and in society.”
~Evangelium Vitae n. 98.

Archdiocese of St. Louis:
Campaign for Religious
Liberty
http://archstl.org/liberty

USCCB - text "Freedom" to
377377 for brief messages
about religious freedom!
HHS MANDATE:
• WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
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Universal Health Care – the Church
supports this; just not this instantiation of it
due to specific moral objections
 Church’s teaching on contraception,
sterilization (though it provides an ideal
teachable moment for these and
theology of the body.)


Requires a violation of conscience.
› People have to buy, pay into, or provide something
that goes against their consciences.

The exception is too narrow.

Not a fight the Church wants or started, but not
one we can run away from.

Requires all insurance companies (and
indirectly, employers) to provide FREE
contraception, Ella/Plan B, and sterilization to
employees (by August 2012 or 2013).
 Overview
of the Mandate itself
 How can or should I discuss this with
my students?

How do I accurately present the
Church’s teaching and position?
 What
me?

are some resources available to
What teachable moments does the HHS
Mandate provide?
March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act
(ACA) became law.
 August 2011

› Part of that law: contraception and
sterilization
 Must be provided
 Part of “Preventive Care”
› Policy created by HHS, not by law

“Religious Exemption”
› Way too narrow
› “Even Jesus and the Apostles would not be
religious enough.”

“Comment Period”
› 30 Days
› No Real Power
Bulletin Insert
 Letter Campaign
 Letters from Major Universities
 Fortnight for Freedom/Campaign for
Religious Liberty
 Several lawsuits (including our
Archdiocese)
 Many non-Catholics also objected or
supported the Catholic Objection

Contraception, Sterilization, and
Ella/Plan B will be covered
 FREE OF CHARGE – No Co-pay, no outof-pocket, nothing
 Will be implemented by August 2012
 Religious Communities will be given an
extra year – August 2013

Not a fight the Church wanted, but not
one we can run from
 Unprecedented infringement in our
country upon religious liberty
 Where does it go from here? Possible
Watershed


U.S. Senator Blunt – from Missouri!
› Respect for Rights of Conscience Act
(Support)
› Same act in the U.S. House of
Representatives

MO Senator John Lamping: similar
Legislation at state level
› SB 749 – passed; vetoed – Sept. 12 Veto
Override
President Obama Responded on Feb. 10
 Let’s hear from President Obama…


SHIFT OF OWNERSHIP/RESPONSIBILITY:
› Now INSURANCE COMPANIES are
responsible to make clear to all employees
their “Rights”
› Questions:





Will THEY will be fined?
What if THEY don’t agree?
Who pays for insurance?
Who is required to offer insurance?
What about the “average Joe” who doesn’t
agree?

President Obama said….
› Religious organizations will not pay for these
services
› …will not provide these services
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
 FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE
 HEALTH CARE
 WOMEN’S RIGHTS
 WHEN DOES ONE RIGHT/LIBERTY TRUMP
ANOTHER?
 WHAT ARE THE LIMITS ON RELIGIOUS
LIBERTY?

Contraception is being declared a
RIGHT – a preventive service. (see link)
 Pregnancy is being lumped into Diseases
– being addressed by a Preventive Care
Clause.
 Population Control is being touted as
“Cost-effective” – people are being
encouraged to NOT reproduce.
 Our ability to freely live our beliefs with
out interference is being compromised.

Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Amendment I of the United States Constitution
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.
(archives.gov)
PRAY, FAST
 KEEP INFORMED
 TAKE ACTION

› Write letters
› Talk to Friends
› Op. Ed.s
› Teach Your Students

High school:
› Theology of the Body
› Church’s Teaching on Contraception,
Sterilization
› Related teachings: sanctity of marriage,
family
› What is religious liberty?
› How can or should I exercise or express my
religious beliefs in the public sphere?

Middle School and Elementary:
› Liberties as Americans
 How awesome that we live in a country where all
people can freely practice their beliefs
 What are the limits of religious liberty
› Chastity and Marriage (Right START)
› Cross-Curricular: How a Bill Becomes a Law:
 Trace MO SB 749 from its creation to passing, veto, and
now veto override session
› Study Saints tied to Religious Liberty:
 Thomas More and John Fisher, Thomas Becket,
North American Martyrs,Teresa Benedicta of the
Cross (Edith Stein), Miguel Pro, Charles Llwanga,
Paul Miki & Companions, Catherine of Alexandria

Contraception: Why Not – Janet Smith
› dvd, power point, mp3, text

Theology of the Body
› Incorporate into your curriculum
› See textbooks
• Right START Program for 8th Grade Students
Saints
 Pro-life Profile, E-News

10 More Archdiocesan Presentations
 Arrange a Speaker for your school
 Attend MMC Annual Assembly

› Jefferson City (see handout)

Attend Respect Life Convention
› Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012
› St. Charles Convention Center
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