HHS reversal

I've heard people say that President Obama's reversals of Bush's executive orders are not that big of a deal, in particular the "Freedom of Conscience" order that Bush passed shortly before leaving office. After all, Obama is just returning things to the status quo, and things seemed alright before Bush's order. Bishop William F. Murphy answers this well in an interview with CNS:
http://www.usccb.org/conscienceprotection/conscience_qanda.shtml

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, spoke with Catholic News Service's Nancy Frazier O'Brien March 24 about the Obama administration's move to rescind a Department of Health and Human Services regulation guaranteeing conscience protections for health care workers and institutions. Here is a transcript of the interview:

CNS: Why should the average Catholic be concerned about a somewhat obscure regulation of the Department of Health and Human Services?

Bishop Murphy: You're right. The regulations from HHS are regulations that came from the Bush administration in the last period of their governing. And what they are are applications of the statutes. Now the (Obama) administration says all we're doing -- with emphasis on all -- is taking away the regulations. However, legal experts tell us that the regulations are totally in conformity with the statutes. So to take back the regulations raises a real issue, because the statutes are intended to protect human rights -- rights of conscience and rights of freedom of religion. So why should everyone be concerned about this? Because if one person's rights can be compromised, everybody's rights can be compromised.

CNS: But won't Congress still be able to guarantee conscience protections via the statutes if the regulation is overturned?

Bishop Murphy: Well, that's one of those "what ifs" that doesn't make sense. If we're guaranteeing them now, why should we take them away and ask Congress to put them back? Second, there's a fallacy in this. Neither the United States government or the Congress or the administration gives us rights. We have rights ... because we're human beings and no state has the right to compromise or interfere with human rights.There's a real problem in that kind of thinking -- that somehow or another the government has given us something and the government can take it away. The government did not give us rights and the government is acting wrongly if it attempts to try to regulate rights in the sense of compromising anyone's rights. All the government can do is foster and guarantee and defend rights. Otherwise it's a false government.Can I tell you a good story? When I was meeting with (Fidel) Castro in Cuba several years ago, I raised the issue to him about human rights and he said, "I guarantee all human rights so long as no one uses human rights against the state." It doesn't take a genius to figure out that he's not giving them human rights. The state controls. That's why the Congress is not the source of human rights.

CNS: Where do you think the next threat might come if this regulation is rescinded?

Bishop Murphy: I think that just about anything is open. Because once you compromise in one area, then you are open to be compromised in every area. And I would say for example what's going to happen with Catholic hospitals? If the government tries to say that abortion is a constitutional right, then a woman who comes to a Catholic hospital which receives government funds -- and they all do -- (if the hospital) says no (to performing an abortion), and the woman says, "But it's my right," then what do you have? So it's clear this is a very serious moment in constitutional history and in the protection of the rights and liberties of citizens.

CNS: How would you respond to those who argue that it threatens women's health to allow health care providers to decide whether to participate in abortions or other procedures that violate their consciences?

Bishop Murphy: I'm baffled by that question -- truly baffled by it. When was abortion a guarantee of anyone's health? In fact it's a direct attack not just on the health but on the life of the unborn. I just don't understand that at all. The fact is in our society I don't know any part of the United States where abortion isn't readily available for the person who wants it. And this argument about the health of the mother -- even if you were to allow, which I do not, that abortion is OK in the instance of rape and incest -- the fact of the matter objectively is that is a miniscule percentage of the abortions that are performed. They don't even have a blip in the screen, and you're still having to face the fact that abortion is the direct taking of innocent human life.

CNS: Do you think the move to rescind this regulation is an attempt to implement part of the Freedom of Choice Act without having to introduce FOCA?

Bishop Murphy: I'll tell you what my fear is. They have not introduced FOCA and I believe part of it, and I don't know this, my guess is that they received so many cards across the country from the efforts here to say "Do not have FOCA," that they've decided as a tactical strategy not to have a FOCA bill, at least at this time.What I also believe they are trying to do -- and I hope I'm wrong, but I suspect this -- is what I call death by a thousand slices. (The) Mexico City (policy barring the use of taxpayer money to fund organizations that promote or perform abortion or forced sterilization in other countries) gets repealed. HHS regulations get turned back. And the answer is, well, those are both Bush things. No, they're not. They have to do with right of conscience and freedom of religion.Embryonic stem-cell research is called sound science. It isn't sound science. There's never been one person who's been cured or even successfully treated with the results of embryonic stem-cell harvesting -- no one. Adult stem cells, yes. Why do they do this? I can only conclude it has to do with money. So I really do believe that they will move forward. The administration, the government plans to do this and we have to be very much on the alert.

CNS: What effect do you think the administration's effort against conscience protections could have on the upcoming debate over health care reform?

Bishop Murphy: Well, I was fortunate to have a very good discussion with Melody Barnes who is the domestic policy adviser in the White House for President Obama. We spoke about health care reform and I indicated to her the church's support of health care reform particularly to cover the poor and to see to it that everyone has the health care that they need in America. So there are real areas in which we not only would agree but we wish to be supportive for good sound health care reform.But if health care reform means that everyone has to be lock step into the same set of guidelines or that care is rationed unreasonably or things which go against the dignity of the human person now become part of the health care provisions, then we're going to have to say no to those parts of any kind of health care bill. And we will.

CNS: What can the average person do to raise awareness about this threat?

Bishop Murphy: I'm going to answer your question with an observation. We bishops are doing our best to get people to know what the reality is. To use one example, I did my column two weeks ago on embryonic stem-cell research. It's gone to every pastor and every pastor can use that to preach. Our people need guidance. And that's one of the good things that I bless you people here in this office for. By giving people clear reporting on these issues, you are a great instrument for education. And that's a great gift that we all need to make greater use of.I think people need to be informed and I think they have to recognize that they have to make their voices heard. The bishops by themselves cannot do it. Because you can always find some people who call themselves Catholic who don't agree with the bishops. The lay men and women of our churches, of our parishes and dioceses across the country have to be the voices of the Catholic Church today. Their voice is stronger than ours in many instances because they are the constituents, because they vote and because the politicians know they need the votes to be re-elected.

CNS: What are the most important points that people should raise in comments to HHS about the regulation?

Bishop Murphy: Do the regulations deprive someone of needed health care that is being protected by the regulation? Does the removal of the regulations put the lives of people in jeopardy? Does the removal of the regulations put professionals in the health care business in a position in which their consciences can be violated? Does removal of the regulations interfere with Catholic and other religiously based health care institutions providing sound and good health care for people who need it?There is a litmus test here and it is a simple litmus test and it's, is this really serving the health of human beings, of people in our society, or is it simply guaranteeing that a certain group's particular agenda gets the backing of the government against the will and the right thinking of the citizens?Editor's Note: Comments on the proposed rescission of the HHS regulations may be submitted electronically from the Web site of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at www.usccb.org/conscienceprotection. Written comments (one original and two copies) also may be mailed to: Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave. SW, Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201. The deadline for public comment is April 9.

Pro-life work

In being visible as a pro-life priest we can be active in many ways. I'm blessed to be able to go to seminaries, visiting men who are already pro-life and give them practical knowledge about what works on the parish level from my experience and others I've known. Another way is by leading prayer for those who are counseling or protesting at abortion mills. Prayer is so important as the spiritual battle around abortion is so intense; we need to remain close to His heart so ours can be channeled in the right direction, not growing bitter, despondent, or vengeful. Also, once we are assigned to a parish it is not only important to preach the Gospel of Life from the ambo, but to hold meetings and discussions whenever possible to educate and energize parishioners to live this teaching.

Some more pictures from the road.

St. Mary of the Lake Seminary


Prayer after a Planned Parenthood protest


Going out for the protest

Giving talks at a parish

Preaching the Pro-life message

Letter of Support for Pope Benedict

(Guest post from HLI Communications Manager Steve Phelan)

Hello, friends of life!

HLI has begun an initiative in support of Pope Benedict, in particular in support of his courage in speaking the truth about how condoms are not the answer to the spread of AIDS in Africa and around the world. It is an outrage that he is being villified despite the truth of his remarks, and we believe it is time to let him know that he has the love and support of faithful Catholics around the world.

Please take one minute and click on http://hli.org/papal_visit_support.html and sign our letter of support for the Holy Father, forward this link to fellow bloggers, and help us get the word out. This campaign will go through Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19, after which we will send the letter and all "signatures" to the Holy See.

On the Road: St. Gregory the Great Seminary

St. Gregory the Great seminary in Nebraska. What a great group of future priests! It is always very encouraging to find such willingness to learn and excitement about the range of materials that are available to support pro-life teaching.

During our conversations, many of the questions had to do with the practical aspects of pro-life teaching. One of the questions was: What can I do now to prepare myself to become a strong pro-life priest? Prayer and education are, of course, the keys for seminarians who are forming themselves spiritually and intellectually for all the challenges of the priesthood. What cannot be overlooked, however, is the importance of community--of keeping strong friendships with other priests, getting to know personally the families in one's parish, and gathering others who are passionate about the Gospel of Life into community so they can form and strengthen one another. We have huge jobs as priests, and we can't do it all, so we have to learn how to delegate and find other leaders who can spread the Truth about the beauty of and the threats to Life. We not only have to speak strongly on pro-life issues from the pulpit, but we have to form our community to be able to articulate and defend the Gospel of Life around the dinner table, in the classroom, and in the workplace.

On the Road: Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary

I was very blessed to be able to stop by Our Lady of Guadalupe seminary in Denton NE. The reception that I received was excellent: we had wonderful conversations about both HLI and the larger pro-life movement. Visiting seminaries like this and seeing the men really care about life issues gives great hope to what we are doing. We definitely see a brighter future for the Church and the world in men like those at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Scranton's Bishop Martino orders priests: no Communion for public sinners

Feb. 27, 2009 (CWNews.com) -
Bishop Joseph Martino-- who has emerged during the past year as the American bishop most determined to call pro-abortion politicians to account-- has now issued an order that in his Scranton, Pennsylvania diocese, "Those whose unworthiness to receive Holy Communion is known publicly to the Church must be refused Holy Communion in order to prevent sacrilege and to prevent the Catholic in question from committing further grave sin through unworthy reception."
Bishop Martino's directive was conveyed by the diocesan chancellor, James Earley, in an official notice dated February 26. The crucial concluding portion of notice reads:
Therefore, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, Bishop of Scranton, reminds all ministers of Holy Communion, ordinary and extraordinary, that:1. To administer the Sacred Body and Blood of the Lord is a serious duty which they have received from the Church, and no one having accepted this responsibility has the right to ignore the Church’s law in this regard;2. Those whose unworthiness to receive Holy Communion is known publicly to the Church must be refused Holy Communion in order to prevent sacrilege and to prevent the Catholic in question from committing further grave sin through unworthy reception.
The official notice does not mention any individual by name. However it is impossible to overlook the fact that on the same day, February 26, the Scranton diocese also posted an open letter from Bishop Martino of Pennsylvania Senator Robert Casey, in which the bishop-- for the second time-- reminded the Catholic lawmaker of his moral obligation "to oppose abortion and other clear evils." [See today's separate CWN headline storyon the bishop's letter.]
Earlier in the month, in a first rebuke to Senator Casey, Bishop Martino had warned that the senator's vote against an extension of the Mexico City policy-- which prohibited US taxpayer funding of abortion advocacy abroad-- was a violation of the legislator's moral obligation. “Your failure to reverse this vote will regrettably mean that you persist formally in cooperating with the evil brought about by this hideous and unnecessary policy,” the bishop wrote.
The February 26 notice from the Scranton diocese notes that the #915 of the Code of Canon Law instructs Eucharistic ministers not to administer the Blessed Sacrament to Catholics "who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin." [emphasis added] The official notice goes on to quote then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in his 2004 message to the bishops of the United States:
Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.
Thus Bishop Martino has clearly drawn the connection between public support for legal abortion and obstinate perserverance in grave sin, pointing toward the inevitable conclusion that a lawmaker who supports abortion must be barred from receiving the Eucharist.
found at http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=60294

Visiting Seminaries - Blessed John XXIII

I was grateful recently to be able to visit Blessed John XXIII Seminary near Boston as a group of men received candidacy. They were very welcoming and shared my enthusiasm for the pro-life movement

In talking with the men through the day it was interesting to see how a group of them were trying to help others see the truth of Church teaching on life issues.




Here are some photos of the men at Blessed John XXIII in action.



Doing my presentation for the seminarians:















Praying in front of planned parenthood in Boston:















At the pro-life march in DC: