Obama Double Downs Against Catholics

We have been amazed that the  Obama Administration has not backed down on the requirement that Catholic organizations which provide insurance must include abortions, contraceptives and morning after pills to their employees. We had suspected that in an election year, they would have retreated, however, they have doubled down. When the Bishop's letters came out regarding the issue and the suggested topic for sermons for the following Sunday it was also sent to military chaplains. The Administration through the Chief of Chaplains told the military priests that they were not allowed to make any comments regarding the issue.

So now military chaplains have neither freedom of speech or religion.  Sounds like a good start for the Obama's! This is wrong on so many levels that it is hard to contemplate all the ramifications. If these two bedrock foundations of our nation are wiped away, do we still have a constitutional republic or are we becoming a despotic third world dictatorship?

The only answer is that this must be stopped. Should this attack on Catholic organizations is allowed to stand, how long will it be before other religions are attacked?  How would you stand if a rule was passed that religious services could only be held on Sunday or Saturday? Or a rule that said that male circumcision could no longer be done? Or a rule that all religious property should be taxed?

None of us would stand for these changes and therefore, we must march shoulder to shoulder with our Catholic brethren (whether or not you agree with them on abortion, contraceptives or family planning) to strike down this rule. All of our freedoms may be in the balance if we don't.

Conservative Tom

So Much for Freedom of Speech and Religion

By Bobby Eberle February 7, 2012 7:13 am

          

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By now, many of you have heard about the travesty committed by Barack Obama and his administration against the Catholic faith. Whether you are Catholic or not is irrelevant... it's the actions of Obama that should have everyone concerned. Now, there is more evidence of not only Obama's outward hostility toward people of faith, but his willingness to disregard the deepest foundations of our country and Constitution... freedom of speech and religion.

First, a bit of background. Two weeks ago, letters were circulated down to Catholic priests by their bishops. The letters were read at Sunday Mass and they informed those assembled that the Obama administration was making a direct assault upon them. In one year's time, Catholic universities and hospitals have been told they include health insurance coverage for their employees for such things as contraception and abortive drugs. This items are in direct conflict with Catholic religious beliefs. The letters urged action by the people to get Obama to stop.

But there is more.

As reported by Todd Starnes at FoxNews.com, Catholic priests in the military were told they could not read the letter during their sermons. According to Starnes, "the Secretary of the Army feared the letter could be viewed as a call for civil disobedience."

On Jan. 26, Archbishop Timothy Broglio emailed a letter to Catholic military chaplains with instructions that it be read from the pulpit.

A portion of the letter was obtained by Business Insider. It reads:

"In so ruling, the Obama Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation's first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to either violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Obama Administration's sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply."

The following day, senior chaplains received an email from the Army's Office of the Chief of Chaplains advising them that the archbishop's letter was not coordinated with their office - and instructed chaplains not to read it from the pulpit.

The letter that was asked to be read can be found at National Review Online.

So there you have it. Not only is Obama's administration fully committed to forcing Catholic institutions to violation their faith under penalty of Obamacare, but now they are telling military priests what they can and can't say during a sermon. Catholics are losing their freedom of religion, and Catholic military priests are losing their freedom of speech. Aren't these freedoms the very thing that our military is fighting for? If we lose these freedoms, how is America any different than China?

These actions go way beyond any particular religion. They are a sign of Obama's disdain for people of faith. His religion is the radical, left-wing agenda, and he is high-priest