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Inquiringperson
Guest
Would the HHS Mandate affect Seminaries in America?
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Gorgias
Guest
I presume you’re asking the question with respect to the employees of seminaries, not with respect to seminarians.
Since, it would seem, seminaries don’t meet the requirements for an exemption under the mandate, it would appear that the mandate applies to them.
Since, it would seem, seminaries don’t meet the requirements for an exemption under the mandate, it would appear that the mandate applies to them.
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Inquiringperson
Guest
I meant with respect to the employees.
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Gorgias
Guest
The four criteria are:
(1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a nonprofit organization
You could make a case for (1) and (3), without a doubt, and (4) is probably safe, too. However, (2) would present a problem (unless the faculty were employees of the ‘seminary’, per se, and they were largely the only employees).
(1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a nonprofit organization
You could make a case for (1) and (3), without a doubt, and (4) is probably safe, too. However, (2) would present a problem (unless the faculty were employees of the ‘seminary’, per se, and they were largely the only employees).
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iloveangels
Guest
Yes, they’ll have to make sure all the help is Catholic: cooks, drivers, housekeepers etc. And the bookstore etc will have to be closed to the general public, only open to Catholics. Also if there are any apostolates that employees engage in etc, they’ll have to be strictly screened to qualify.
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JimG
Guest
Rather ironic, but it will be up to Kathleen Sebelius and her bureaucrats to determine whether the seminary is truly religious enough to get an exemption!
(It seems a clear violation of the 1st Amendment to me.) If they have any non-Catholic employees, it’s not likely that they would be exempt. And most seminaries don’t require their kitchen help, janitors, librarians, or even professors, to be Catholics. Also, not all students may be Catholic. Some non-Catholics may be attending classes there.
(It seems a clear violation of the 1st Amendment to me.) If they have any non-Catholic employees, it’s not likely that they would be exempt. And most seminaries don’t require their kitchen help, janitors, librarians, or even professors, to be Catholics. Also, not all students may be Catholic. Some non-Catholics may be attending classes there.
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iloveangels
Guest
The seminaries aren’t going to be the ones with most of the problems, because most people on seminary grounds are already verifiably Catholic, and ordained ministers are ordained for the express purpose of inculcating the Catholic faith. They will qualify for the exemption with minor adjustments.
It’s the soup kitchens, food banks, hospitals, clinics, schools, retreat houses, migrant ministries, diocesan bookstores, etc, that won’t qualify. Basically, where all the CINOs are most likely to hang out. There’s the irony.
And if Catholic schools get caught in this, all heck will break loose. For some people we’ve been glorified prep schools and that’s about all. Lots of non-catholic teachers; lots of non-catholic students; lots of CINOs. That’s at pretty high risk now too.
I say have a big reorg in these places and then restrict employment and enrollment to catholics or shut it down.
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manualman
Guest
Seminaries will be safe if they are primarily seminaries and not just a branch of a larger university system. If the latter, trouble.
Catholic schools are in trouble on this though. I find it hard to believe this is so low on the public radar screen. There are 2,065,000 catholic school kids in America. If Obama goes through with his threats to fine these schools all out of existence for being faithful to catholic beliefs the impact on taxpayers will be astounding! In my area, public school districts spend about $14,000 per student per year in total costs. That’s $29 BILLION more in public school expenses that will be necessary (not to mention the school capacity issues that will likely result).
What do you say, property owners? Want your share of another $29 billion added to your real estate taxes from now on?
Then again, this president racked up more than 6 TRILLION onto the national debt and few noticed or cared. Why should I be surprised anymore.
Catholic schools are in trouble on this though. I find it hard to believe this is so low on the public radar screen. There are 2,065,000 catholic school kids in America. If Obama goes through with his threats to fine these schools all out of existence for being faithful to catholic beliefs the impact on taxpayers will be astounding! In my area, public school districts spend about $14,000 per student per year in total costs. That’s $29 BILLION more in public school expenses that will be necessary (not to mention the school capacity issues that will likely result).
What do you say, property owners? Want your share of another $29 billion added to your real estate taxes from now on?
Then again, this president racked up more than 6 TRILLION onto the national debt and few noticed or cared. Why should I be surprised anymore.
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iloveangels
Guest
Good point. Yes, they will have to separate themselves legally if they’re part of a bigger thing like a university. On the other hand, there might be more Catholic donations from them simply because a lot of other things are going to go belly up, so they might be able to reorg and make a pretty good go of it. It’ll involve some clear thinking and some hard work though. Not sure how prepared they are for that.
That’s the point right there. It’s on the Dem’s radar even if most catholics are oblivious. They don’t like competition.
Sometimes people have to find things out the hard way.What do you say, property owners? Want your share of another $29 billion added to your real estate taxes from now on?
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