Aumentan los Ataques a la Libertad Religiosa
El último ataque en contra de la libertad religiosa fue irónicamente emitido por una Católica, la Secretaria de Salud y Servicios Humanos, Kathleen Sibelius. El pasado viernes, la secretaria Sibelius anunció la decisión de la Administración de dar un año para que las instituciones Católicas (y otras instituciones) cuyas creencias religiosas rechazan la contracepción artificial vayan en contra de sus principios.
Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos, y otros obispos, han pedido la expansión de una excepción muy estrecha al requisito de proveer todos los contraceptivos de la Administración de Medicamentos y Alimentos, FDA (algunos de los cuales ocasionan abortos), sin costo deducible a todas las mujeres cubiertas por un plan de seguro medico.
El pasado viernes, la secretaria Sibelius anunció que los grupos no lucrativos que no proporcionan cobertura anticonceptiva debido a sus creencias religiosas, tendrán un año adicional “para adaptarse a este nuevo reglamento.” Adaptarse, en este caso, significa cumplir.
Ésta es otra de las muchas violaciones a la Primera Enmienda de la Constitución a la libertad de religión. Esta violación cae en la misma categoría de las leyes aprobadas por algunos estados que requieren que instituciones a cargo de adopciones, ofrezcan adopción de niños a parejas del mismo sexo. Como resultado de dichas leyes, Caridades Católicas en Massachusetts y el Distrito de Columbia han cerrado sus programas de la adopción que habrían ofrecido una cifra significativa de adopciones en sus respectivas comunidades.
Como les he expresado anteriormente, esto es parte de un patrón que se ha ido desarrollado en los Estados Unidos que de haber visto la religión como algo bueno y benéfico para nuestra sociedad, la vieron pasar a ser una religión tolerada y posteriormente tratada con hostilidad, hasta llevarla a una discriminación punitiva.
La declaración de la secretaria Sebelius, “Creo que esta propuesta muestra un equilibrio apropiado entre el respeto de la libertad religiosa y el aumento al acceso de importantes servicios preventivos,” es absolutamente absurda.
Los obispos Católicos están comprometidos a trabajar incansablemente para reformar la ley y para cambiar esta injusta regulación.
My son and I are offering our DAILY MASS for God’s Will in this awesome battle against the old enemy: man’s willfulness and the demonic forces that feed right into it. This battle is a blessing. It may be the final battle against the “Culture of Death” and America’s downfall. Special prayers for so called Catholics who obey only what pleases them about the Teaching of the Magisterium. The lukewarm cause the greatest suffering to the Body of Christ. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share in this battle.
Good Morning Bishop,
Thank you for you stand on the recent HHS ruling concerning the violation of relifious organizations to have the freedom to follow their beliefs.
I pray that you and your fellow bishops and clergy do not agree to any compromise or accomodation from the president. The president looks to divide us a little at a time and each small piece we give up now, will be a bigger piece later until there is nothing left.
Our family and I have visited your diocese on several occasions and have relatives in the Dallas area. We pray for you and the rest of the church and ask you all to remain strong in the face of these grave violations to our rights being forced upon us by this administration. St. Michael Protect Us.
Till we elect another President we are in danger of loosing all our freedoms. He has inserted him self in evert area of our lives. I will vote Reublican and hope for the best. His health care bill is a joke. Everyday I read about another test that we don’t need. It’s not that we don’t need it it that he can’t afford it. The poor will get the worst care they ever got under his bill. I know there are some that will disagree with me they can just wait and see. We have loss respect all around the world since King Oboma came into office. He is making us into a 3rd world country. God help us if he gets another four years. I refused to think about that. Who I vote for I really havn’t decided. it has to be someone that can beat Oboma. Please feel free to visit my site it’s call Police Officers And Citizens Chat My nic name glock221 God Bless All
Carole Ann aka glock221
Most of us in the pews are very pleased with the heroism you bishops and priests have shown over this issue. You have the power through your leadership to restore the Church in America to greatness.
There is an urgent need though, to teach adults how the role of bishop and priest works in, and should effect, the lives of us Catholics. Many do not understand the teaching of apostolic succession and so they easily confuse our bishops with the likes of TD Jakes! Please make adult catechesis a priority in our diocese.
God has a wonderful way of using unfortunate events to facilitate great good. So I -and millions of people of holy faith have come together to stand with our shepherd Bishops for our God given rights & responsibilities to defend our Church.
Bless you all!
Bishop Farrell, it would be great to hear more about this issue from the pulpit. I fear most Catholics are simply not aware or are comfortably ignorant of what is at stake – our First Amendment rights. Soon enough we will be 60 days from the general election and, recent court decisions notwithstanding, the Church could find itself muzzled by restrictions on “electioneering communications” per McCain-Feingold. Certainly this kind of demon can only be expelled by prayer and fasting. Very encouraged by the resolve of USCCB!
Dear Bishop Farrell,
Thank you for the initiative of “The Light is on For You.”
I was in our Church yesterday evening, and saw the large number of people who came in, asking “Where are the confessions?”, and some
almost rushing, asking “Are they still hearing Confessions?”
In our parish, our two priests did indeed provide reconciliation for the full time you had requested. The hunger of the people for the sacrament was very moving.