No idle talk-Archbishop says he will close Catholic Charities rather than compromise Church teaching

[Valke2]

The government imposing itself on religion is a huge problem. In the past the government allowed conscience clauses for cases like this. That has been removed and replaced with a hammer.

In NY all Catholic hospitals and institutions are being forced to include contraceptives in their health care offerings. Private corporations have also been forced to provide contraceptives under the guise of woman’s health care and my company cannot opt out. The Catholic bishops sued and the case was not even heard.

To be clear, the legislation requires that hospital emergency rooms provide ‘emergency contraception’ drugs to survivors of rape, provided the drugs are not contraindicated, the
woman is not pregnant, and it is within a medically appropriate amount of time from the attack. Prior to the legislation, Catholic hospitals in NY were already administering emergency contraception under these conditions.

The New York Catholic Conference had this to say:

“Catholic teaching prohibiting the use of artificial contraception does not and has never applied to women who are raped. The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops state: ‘A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.’”

 

[pnewton]

We are ALL sinners, no exceptions. Why is this one singled out? (though it is not a sin if they are in a monogamous long-term relationship)

Yes, it is still sin. It is only entrenched sin. Engaging in sin more often or over a period of time does not lessen it.

I believe the Archbishop is not making idle threats. When the state want to regulate the Church, it is time to back out. There are other areas of charity work. If Colorado restrains Catholics to violate their principles to help the poor, then there are poor else where that are in need and can be helped. If the residents of Colorado do not like this, then they need to dump there elected officials.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

To be clear, the legislation requires that hospital emergency rooms provide ‘emergency contraception’ drugs to survivors of rape, provided the drugs are not contraindicated, the
woman is not pregnant, and it is within a medically appropriate amount of time from the attack. Prior to the legislation, Catholic hospitals in NY were already administering emergency contraception under these conditions.

**Good post, Valke. If conception had not yet occurred and a victim of rape goes to ER the “potential” conception can be averted. A rapist’s seed is NOT mandated to impregnate a woman while it has not yet reached the ovum. Conception is NOT an instantaneous occurrence after ejaculation; it can take hours. To stand back and allow a conception to take place while it had not yet is outrageous. **

 

[Adonis33]

To be clear, the legislation requires that hospital emergency rooms provide ‘emergency contraception’ drugs to survivors of rape, provided the drugs are not contraindicated, the
woman is not pregnant, and it is within a medically appropriate amount of time from the attack. Prior to the legislation, Catholic hospitals in NY were already administering emergency contraception under these conditions.

The New York Catholic Conference had this to say:

“Catholic teaching prohibiting the use of artificial contraception does not and has never applied to women who are raped. The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops state: ‘A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.’”

Interesting post.

 

[1234]

Interesting post.

If emergency rooms in Catholic hospitals do not provide emergency contraception, including the so-called ‘morning after’ pill, which CAN act as an abortifacient, but not necessarily, it is not offering the full range of available medical care and that emergency room should be closed.

 

[pnewton]

If emergency rooms in Catholic hospitals do not provide emergency contraception, including the so-called ‘morning after’ pill, which CAN act as an abortifacient, but not necessarily, it is not offering the full range of available medical care and that emergency room should be closed.

Then close them. Then no one gets treatment and those legislatures who stood up for the down-trodden can figure out how to provide care. Maybe the state capitol can install an ER.

 

[geezerbob]

If emergency rooms in Catholic hospitals do not provide emergency contraception, including the so-called ‘morning after’ pill, which CAN act as an abortifacient, but not necessarily, it is not offering the full range of available medical care and that emergency room should be closed.

Four major hospitals in my area operate emergency rooms, but only two offer cardiac care and only one is a full-fledged trauma center. According to your standards, should the other three close?

 

[Valke2]

I haven’t read the whole thread and maybe it’s just gone off topic, but the legislation in question, as reported in the article, has nothing to do with contraception, and the Catholic Charity has nothing to do with hospitals. It deals with discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation.

And it does not seem to be simply a matter of having Cahtolic Charities decline public funding. From what I read, it is the government that has been benefiting from Catholic Charities, not the other way around. THey are apparently more efficient in placing adoptions, etc., so that a larger percentage of every dollar spent there goes toward actually helping people. Those opposed to the Archbishop’s stance should not fool themselves into believing that the charity’s existence is at the government’s sufferance. It is providing a real beneficial service to the state.

So the threat to close down the charity is a real threat to the benifits the people of colorado are receiving.

 

[KathleenElsie]

If emergency rooms in Catholic hospitals do not provide emergency contraception, including the so-called ‘morning after’ pill, which CAN act as an abortifacient, but not necessarily, it is not offering the full range of available medical care and that emergency room should be closed.

Since each and every emergency room in our area tends to specialize in one type of trauma then by your standard they would all be required to close. Oh well “let them eat cake”. As the saying goes.

 

[sidonius]

I seem to remember that in the late 80s or the early 90s the Missionaries of Charity wanted to open a house to care for the poor in New York City. The City said that they would have to install an elevator. The Sisters did not have sufficient funds and said that they would carry the disabled to their rooms. The City refused to back down so Mother Theresa pulled the plug on the project. She had her hierarchy of values in order, and so does Archbishop Chaput.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

New York City has been a Socialist entity in America for generations.

 

[pnewton]

The Sisters did not have sufficient funds and said that they would carry the disabled to their rooms. The City refused to back down so Mother Theresa pulled the plug on the project. She had her hierarchy of values in order, and so does Archbishop Chaput.

The money in that case, as in the case of Colorado, would be better spent else where in places where Catholics can be Catholics.

 

[sidonius]

We are ALL sinners, no exceptions. Why is this one singled out? (though it is not a sin if they are in a monogamous long-term relationship)

Sorry, but sexual activity within any long-term monogamous relationship is a sin unless that relationship is a sacramental marriage. As Casey Stengel used to say: “Ya could look it up.”

 

[strngrnrth]

I think if we support Catholic Charities so that it needs no government funds and make it even better we will be glorifying God beautifully. So many are already giving so much. But I pray we will keep it going independently of the government funds and their restrictions.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I think if we support Catholic Charities so that it needs no government funds and make it even better we will be glorifying God beautifully. So many are already giving so much. But I pray we will keep it going independently of the government funds and their restrictions.

We benefit when we give – we acquire merit. But how do we benefit from disbursing money that was forcibly collected from someone else?

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I totally agree with Archbishop Chaput’s stand, and he is in my prayers. In so far as singling out one sin, over others, it was an example. Always remember the five non-negotiables which we must consider. What would you say if the state said we must provide abortion on demand, or euthanasia, or any of the others. The answer must still be** NO.** We either have freedom of religion or not. The state cannot tell us what we have to do, if it is immoral and against our teaching. Remember, we say we are the One true faith. Lets act like it. If this is persecution, so be it. Some areas are threatening to tax individual parishes if they speak out on politics. Believe me, there are moral issues involved there also. If this starts now, it is just the beginning. Ancient Rome, here we come all over again. I for one do not want that, but it seems we are heading in that direction. Pray, Pray, Pray.
Deacon Ed B

 

[Valke2]

I thought this was about hiring homosexuals.

 

[mmm1]

I thought this was about hiring homosexuals.

I think that is part of it, but I think a larger concern is that Catholic Charities handles lots of adoptions, & could be forced to facilitate adoptions to same-sex couples. I think this happened in Boston as well, & the Bishops do not want to be forced to violate Catholic teaching & place a child in that situation. I could be wrong, other posters could probably tell you better…

 

[mjdonnelly]

Just like the Catholic Charities in Mass. stopping work on adoptions because it is improper to allow adoption by a gay couple, and the state decided to interfere.