THE “COERCIVE HHS MADATE” “IMPOSES A GREAT BURDEN” AND IS “AGAINST US”.

The United States Catholic Bishops, at the conclusion of their Fall meeting, have issued an important statement on the implementation of the so-called Affordable Care Act component known as the HHS Mandate. While the entire statement is worth a read (see italicized below), the bishops point out “three basic problems with the mandate”. The three problems (in italics and bold) with my annotations are:

• 1. it establishes a false architecture of religious liberty that excludes our ministries and so reduces freedom of religion to freedom of worship.

The bishops note the HHS Mandate unjustly restricts religious ministry significantly and they imply that the Federal Government wants to restrict church activity to within the four walls of the church, so to speak.

• 2. it compels our ministries to participate in providing employees with abortifacient drugs and devices, sterilization, and contraception, which violates our deeply-held beliefs.

Imagine being required, as a business owner, to help pay for (through provision in the health insurance plan) abortions when you deeply believe that all human life should be defended (as a precious gift from God). We believe it to be sinful to use these methods and devices. The HHS Mandate goes beyond legalizing actions that are sinful. Cooperation with those who choose these particular sinful actions is now required by the HHS Mandate.

• 3. it compels our faithful people in business to act against our teachings, failing to provide them any exemption at all.

The bishops are sticking up for the businesses and other organizations that provide health care or health insurance for their employees who are morally and justly scandalized that they are about to be forced to pay for artificial contraception, sterilizations, and abortions. These business people recognize that in doing so, they are contributing to a culture of death, where life is not considered a precious gift but rather a commodity.

In spite of various previous statements by several leading bishops, and lawsuits by Catholic bishops, dioceses, colleges and other organizations, those in charge of the United States Federal Government seem to insist in an arrogant sense of moral superiority toward anyone with an opposing point of view. Further, those who want to continue to practice their life-affirming faith may indeed be punished by the Feds.

The three points make an additional (albeit understated) point; unless the HHS Mandate is overturned, it’s not far-fetched to anticipate further restrictions on religious practices would be around the corner. The “false architecture” the Federal Government constructs would be the framework for any additional imposition of law (future mandates or restrictions) against the moral teachings of people of faith.

The bishops have stopped short of calling for widespread civil disobedience. They remain steadfast but patient. Their patience may be running out. We the faithful, especially those of us (this Deacon Dad included) who pledge obedience to our particular bishop, may be called upon, one day, to act in particular heroic virtue. Stay tuned…

The United States Catholic Bishops Statement on the HHS Mandate of November 13, 2013.

"The bishops of this country have just concluded their traditional fall meeting in Baltimore and have spent time on issues important to them and their people: help to those suffering from Typhoon Haiyan; an update on the situation in Haiti; matters of worship and teaching; service to the poor; and comprehensive immigration reform. Among those priorities is the protection of religious freedom, especially as threatened by the HHS mandate.

Pope Francis has reminded us that “In the context of society, there is only one thing which the Church quite clearly demands: the freedom to proclaim the Gospel in its entirety, even when it runs counter to the world, even when it goes against the tide.”

We stand together as pastors charged with proclaiming the Gospel in its entirety. That Gospel calls us to feed the poor, heal the sick, and educate the young, and in so doing witness to our faith in its fullness. Our great ministries of service and our clergy, religious sisters and brothers, and lay faithful, especially those involved in Church apostolates, strive to answer this call every day, and the Constitution and the law protect our freedom to do so.

Yet with its coercive HHS mandate, the government is refusing to uphold its obligation to respect the rights of religious believers. Beginning in March 2012, in United for Religious Freedom, we identified three basic problems with the HHS mandate: it establishes a false architecture of religious liberty that excludes our ministries and so reduces freedom of religion to freedom of worship; it compels our ministries to participate in providing employees with abortifacient drugs and devices, sterilization, and contraception, which violates our deeply-held beliefs; and it compels our faithful people in business to act against our teachings, failing to provide them any exemption at all.

Despite our repeated efforts to work and dialogue toward a solution, those problems remain. Not only does the mandate undermine our ministries’ ability to witness to our faith, which is their core mission, but the penalties it imposes also lay a great burden on those ministries, threatening their very ability to survive and to serve the many who rely on their care.

The current impasse is all the more frustrating because the Catholic Church has long been a leading provider of, and advocate for, accessible, life-affirming health care. We would have preferred to spend these recent past years working toward this shared goal instead of resisting this intrusion into our religious liberty. We have been forced to devote time and resources to a conflict we did not start nor seek.

As the government’s implementation of the mandate against us approaches, we bishops stand united in our resolve to resist this heavy burden and protect our religious freedom. Even as each bishop struggles to address the mandate, together we are striving to develop alternate avenues of response to this difficult situation. We seek to answer the Gospel call to serve our neighbors, meet our obligation to provide our people with just health insurance, protect our religious freedom, and not be coerced to violate our consciences. We remain grateful for the unity we share in this endeavor with Americans of all other faiths, and even with those of no faith at all. It is our hope that our ministries and lay faithful will be able to continue providing insurance in a manner consistent with the faith of our Church. We will continue our efforts in Congress and especially with the promising initiatives in the courts to protect the religious freedom that ensures our ability to fulfill the Gospel by serving the common good.

This resolve is particularly providential on this feast of the patroness of immigrants, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. She was a brave woman who brought the full vigor of her deep religious faith to the service of the sick, the poor, children, the elderly, and the immigrant. We count on her intercession, as united we obey the command of Jesus to serve the least of our brothers and sisters.