Bishop Malone’s Letter to the Faithful
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I write to you today out of a profound sense of concern and dismay regarding the recent decision made by the President of the United States to impose a mandate on religious institutions that is a blatant disregard of our constitutionally protected right of religious freedom. I speak of the Department of Health and Human Services’ ruling which mandates that all health insurance plans include coverage of contraceptives, sterilization services, and the morning-after pill, which can induce an abortion. As written, the ruling does include a very narrow exception for religious organizations. However, that definition is so narrow that many religious organizations will not qualify.
In order to be exempt, a religious organization must meet four conditions:
- First, it must “have as its primary purpose the inculcation of religious values as its purpose.”
- Second, it must “primarily employ persons who share its religious tenets.”
- Third, it must “primarily serve people who share its religious tenets.”
- Fourth, it must “be a not-for-profit.”
This unprecedented, exceedingly narrow definition places many Catholic institutions and those of other religious organizations at peril. Although this definition may include parishes, other institutions such as Catholic Charities, Catholic hospitals, nursing homes--even our Catholic schools--would be forced to comply.
What are our options? Either ignore our conscience and comply, which is, of course, out of the question, or stop providing health benefits to our employees. This too, is unconscionable. I hope you can appreciate the gravity of this situation and the impossible position in which it places us.
There is little question that the issue of contraception, sterilization, and the morning-after pill is a grave concern. However, the overriding concern that has profound ramifications at this moment is the administration’s disregard for fundamental religious rights. With the stroke of a pen, the administration has violated our right to act in keeping with our conscience. Religious freedom without government intrusion is a founding principle of this country; it is a freedom that is protected by the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
As a community of faith we must act on this matter courageously, decisively and promptly. More information can be found on the diocesan website and on the USCCB website. Additionally, call-to-action materials will be provided to you soon. Do not hesitate to contact Marc Mutty, director of the Office of Public Affairs at the Chancery, should you have questions or concerns.
Let us all pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us as we face such daunting challenges before us.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Richard J. Malone
Bishop of Portland
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Dear Bishop Malone,
We are so please to see your leadership, courage, and integrity!
You have our support and prayers.
May the good Lord bless you and your team.
There is nothing that needs to be added to Diane's response, so I'll just second it.
Thank you Bishop Malone.
The Bishops are finally waking up to the evils of the Democrat Party. I was thrown off Catholic Answers Forum once (we "made up") for pointing out that The Democrat Party is not a moral party. To be sure, the Republicans are catching up, but one can find people in the Republican Party who are not supporting a leadership that is anti-Christian and anti-Jewish.
The majority of blame rests with an ultra liberal, amoral, arrogant, elitist press. They do not present honest, unbiased information. Network programming is consciously anti-Christian. America has been so dumbed down that most don't even know that they are less free today than fifty years ago. And so, the persecution of the one, true Church is beginning. Are we willing to stand for truth at the risk of losing all we have--perhaps being martyred for our Faith?
The government NEVER had the right to limit what priests could say from the pulpit. That is nowhere in the Constitution. Yet, lack of courage allowed a creeping encroachment on our freedoms such that we have a President who bypasses the Senate in making appointments and rules. The Dems sit idly by because they are in power. In my view, it is morally reprehensible for any Catholic to be a Dem unless they are vociferously fighting to purge the Party of its corrupt, amoral members (that would leave VERY few). Mike Michaud, Biden, Kerry, Pelosi, all the Kennedy family are classic examples. Are there no St. Thomas Moore's left on the planet?
The Bishops have themselves to blame as well. Many in the laity pointed out the evil in Obama. It was there for all to see, yet so many religious supported him--even courted him. Did they not know of his stands on infanticide (pro), abortion, same sex marriage, communism (pro)? Now, because of the influence of an amoral press, we have TWO corrupt parties who present us with feckless, craven candidates. The Republican line-up is pathetic. Nonetheless, there is more hope for someone emerging from among the Republicans who could turn this nation around. If there are ten good Democrats I'd like to meet them. 54 million innocents killed in the most horrible way imaginable thanks to the Party of Satan. Go ahead Catholics, keep voting for Dems...
Yes there are Dante. However, we don't see much of them, as they are politically beheaded as soon as they get the attention of the press.
But this is to be expected. "My kingdom is not of this world..."
For the world's sake, I hope you right, Chris.
Thank you Bishop Malone!
I want you to know that I could not agree with you more and I stand with you in prayer. We the people of the Republic of the United States will not tolerate these clearly unconstitutional acts. We decree the tables are being turned and every hidden agenda will be exposed in Jesus name! I ask you to touch Barack Obama,reveal yourself to him Lord. I pray as Christians what we see would cause us to both pray and stand united against all the injustice we see-not in bitterness towards a man but in the the Spirit of Jesus. Father,forgive Barack Obama for he know not what he is doing. Father,forgive us the church for allowing it to come to all this.
I believe it is time that we the people of a REPUBLIC (people decide) make a stand. God thank you for all like Bishop Malone who are making a stand in this hour for life. That we value you life and fight and give voice for some 52 million babies that have been aborted whose blood cries out just as Able's did. The loss of all these lives is the very reason our nation is in the mess that it is in. One of theses babies had the cure to cancer,numbers had inventions,solutions to problems we now face. America we can not disregard human life and not expect God's judgement to come upon our nation-it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Let us all cry out for mercy for the sins of our nation. God bless you Bishop Malone and keep speaking out-there are people standing with you. Your brother in Christ,
Scott Whittier
Dante-I agree-time for us all to get serious about following Jesus-even to death
Thank you Bishop Malone. I stand with you.
Where were the Bishops when this idiot was campaigning for President? He made these promises, yet the Bishops were solidly behind him and the overwhelming majority of Catholics voted for him. The Church deserves what it gets. Not one cent of mine will go to support the fight that should have been completely avoided. I have become a disinfrachised Catholic after sixty years.
The Church deserves what it gets? Well...
I understand your feelings on the matter. We reap what we sow in this country, and right now we are seeing the consequences of ignoring the Church's social doctrine for decades. The Church warned of the consequences of Socialism, but we just won't listen. So in a sense, you are correct.
But we must always remember what the Church is, and Who founded her. We must always remember that however weak and simple-minded some of our heirarchy have been, and however weak and selfish some "Catholics" have been, justice is still justice, right is still right, and our moral obligations are still present. We cannot use the faults of others to excuse our own duties before God, including fidelity to Him and the Church He founded.
Besides, the vast majority of authentic Catholics, those who actually try to live their faith, were not fooled by the promises of the petty marxist we now have in the White House.
Christ does not abandon us, even when we are idiots, and we should not use the idiocy of our fellow Catholics to abandon Him.
Can you say "baby and bathwater"? Now more than ever the Church and her defenders - CatholicMaine, Catholic radio, and other faithful ministries - need the support - both financial and spiritual - of Catholics like yourself. Don't go just when the going gets tough.
...and one more thought...
Some Catholics leave the Church because of the homosexual priest scandal, or because she is against so-called "gay marriage" or abortion, or because they perceive her as being too liberal or too conservative or for any number of other personal grievances. Abandoned by individuals making an eternal decision in the heat of the moment based upon the behavior (or misbehavior) of other individuals. So, individuals leave the Church that Christ built on the Rock of Peter more than 2,000 years ago because of a recurring theme of human weakness, but know this - the One True Church will not leave us. Several people have been credited with observing that the Church is a hospital for the sick, not a museum for the Saints. Long after all those with grievances have left, the Church will still stand, serving and saving the sick, the sinners who most need her, not unlike a hospital bombed during wartime, abandoned by the administrators and doctors and all who feel inclined to flee for their own personal reasons. Those who need the hospital most will stay behind, unwilling or unable to leave, living more in eternity than in the moment.
I do believe that there is a sort of hope through all this and that belongs to all the bishops, priests, sisters,cardinals, laity our Pope etc. to see it through that CATHOLIC EDUCATION is the essense of preventing so much of what has been and continues to be. Let's promote CATHOLIC EDUCATION not religious education programs but CATHOLIC EDUCATION for our children at school, where they spend 80% of their day. Catholic Schools need to be affordable and accessible. This is our obligation. Our foundation. We need more communication about our faith and Catholicism. Not just guidelines written in books and encyclycals at every persons fingertips should they so choose to inquire. We don't parent that way do we? We have daily conversations about moral and ethical discussions as families. We need a shift in the way we educate, teach, commit and soon this becomes a way of life and so asked and answered!!!
You are right. Catholic schools haven't been all that affordable or accessable for years now.
In fact, they haven't even been all that Catholic. (Downright pagan in some cases.)
The Church is working on the problem however, and until those issues are corrected, God provides, and the Catholic Education of our youth continues.
It's called Catholic Homeschooling.
There is a new web site that launched today, Stop HHS Mandate; they are collecting on-line petition signatures to present to Obama... they promise to serve as a repository for all the latest information on this aggression against the Catholic Church. In the five hours or so since they launched they have 2,500 signatures.