Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Archbishop Schnurr defies Obama Assault on Freedom

I just received an email from his Excellency, Dennis Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati.

Because it's a "PDF" file, it doesn't react well when I try to post it here, and I must run to hear confessions.

So I will simply tell you the Archbishop is taking a strong stand; he says, "we cannot--we will not--comply with this unjust law."

He asks that we fast and pray for deliverance from the oppression being visited upon us by our own government; and that we work to overturn this violation of the First Amendment.

I ask that you please pray for our bishops, and also tell them you support them.

UPDATE (1/26/12)

Here is the text of the Archbishop's letter:


January 26, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.

The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people – the Catholic population and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Cathofic employers, will beforced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot – we will not – comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not corne to these shores to help build Arnerica’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to Contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati

8 comments:

Gail Finke said...

Is that a letter for publication in parishes? Or a letter just for pastors?

truthfinder2 said...

Prayer and fasting; two of our best weapons! --- Rosemary

Fr Martin Fox said...

Gail:

All pastors got it, and are asked to share it. I will post it when I figure out how; and I'll both read it at Masses this weekend, and include it in the bulletin.

truthfinder2 said...

Fr. Fox - The internet being what it is, you might want to delete the signature for security reasons. -- Rosemary

Fr Martin Fox said...

Oh, OK, well, it's on the archdiocese's web site.

But I'll see what I can do.

Joe Pots said...

I am a Catholic Youth Music Maker/Speaker responding to that “Why I hate Religion but Love Jesus” video with my debut Catholic cd coming out in a couple days called “Takin’ it Back”. My website is Joepots.com and Youtube.com/321pots
Their is a song about Purity, Pro-life, and the Beatitudes. Catholics are about to respond to all the Assault that we've allowed the world to give us!! God Bless You!!!

Greta said...

Does this letter to the priest come with insructions to read it at mass and or put it into the Bulletins or is this something the Archbishop is allowing to be screend and dissented upon by those who are always in open dissent in the diocese including those in the Archbishops own offices?

Fr Martin Fox said...

Greta:

The letter was sent out to all parishes with the instructions to read at all Masses, and to provide the letter to all parishioners.