That quote came to mind during this clip from last night's Hardball with Chris Matthews, in which Matthews gives his take on the HHS rule that would force Catholic hospitals, universities and social services to pay for contraceptives and other procedures contrary to Catholic teaching in their employee health plans.
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Serious matter, full consent of the will, and sufficient reflection.
ReplyDeleteThe Health and Human Services mandate subverts and deceives the American people with the approval of a President who betrays his first and foremost duty and oath of office, who promised before God, our Creator and "We, the People" to defend and protect the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights that protects U.S. Citizens.
The White House Administration betrays their own words of supporting "consumer" choice with any mandate that 1) denies "free choice" in the purchase of anything, and 2) forces payment for anything a person does not want to buy/pay for, and 3) "forces" a penalty for noncompliance with a US government mandate on the purchase of anything.
The Health and Human Services mandate not only violates the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights, but also individual "conscience" rights, human rights and civil rights. And that is a huge violation by the US Government Administration and directly the Office of the President. As President Obama said in the last few days in reference to Syria's murderous actions, "A government that kills it's own people protesting government policies does not deserve to govern."
The US Government allows the "killing" of it's own people by abortion and the American people have allowed this atrocity. People who do not speak out against it are as guilty as those who victimize women with 1) Lies for money, and 2) Performs abortions as a result of lying to people, men and women, who are uneducated in biomedical science.
What's frustrating to me is how many people think this issue is about abortion, contraceptives, women's rights, or how many Catholics abide by Church teachings on any of the above subjects. This is irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteWhat's relevant is the federal government is attempting to force its will upon non-government, faith-based organizations and individuals in violation of a tenet of faith.
The question everyone should be asking is Does the federal government have the right to force _____ to do/buy/sell/finance ____ even if it violates their faith? You could fill in the blanks with any group from Catholics to Pastafarians and anything from liquor to pork to same sex marriage to widgets. What's in the blanks doesn't really matter. The precedent is being set for the federal government to a) supersede state rights to limit/allow actions related to issues currently regulated at the state level; and b) to dictate to faith-based organizations how they must operate regardless of the confines of their faith.
How so many are failing to see how this is a blatant disregard for the First Amendment is shocking. In addition to signing petitions, I've notified the Obama campaign that I will not be donating or supporting his reelection as a matter of conscience, as it may be the last time I get to exercise that privilege.
Thank you, Chris Matthews - but even so, there's far more at stake than mere "credibility". Thomas More didn't fear the loss of his credibility from signing the oath; he feared the loss of his soul as a consequence of participating in that evil. So do our bishops, and so should we all, fear.
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