Officially Re-defining Religion

[IggyAntiochus]

The Constitution carves out space for religion so that it does not fall under government jurisdiction. So, as Charles Krauthammer points out, the government, which currently demands jurisdiction over everything, is re-defining religion:

And thus, the word came forth from [Health & Human Services director Katherine] Sebelius decreeing the exact criteria required (a) to meet her definition of “religious” and thus (b) to qualify for a modicum of independence from newly enacted state control of American health care, under which the aforementioned Sebelius and her phalanx of experts determine everything — from who is to be covered, to which treatments are to be guaranteed free of charge.

Criterion 1: A “religious institution” must have “the inculcation of religious values as its purpose.” But that’s not the purpose of Catholic charities; it’s to give succor to the poor. That’s not the purpose of Catholic hospitals; it’s to give succor to the sick. Therefore, they don’t qualify as “religious” — and therefore can be required, among other things, to provide free morning-after abortifacients.

Criterion 2: Any exempt institution must be one that “primarily employs” and “primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets.” Catholic soup kitchens do not demand religious IDs from either the hungry they feed or the custodians they employ. Catholic charities and hospitals — even Catholic schools — do not turn away Hindu or Jew.

Their vocation is universal, precisely the kind of universal love-thy-neighbor vocation that is the very definition of religiosity as celebrated by the Gospel of Obama. Yet according to the Gospel of Sebelius, these very same Catholic institutions are not religious at all — under the secularist assumption that religion is what happens on Sunday under some Gothic spire, while good works are “social services” properly rendered up unto Caesar. . . .

Therefore: To flatter his faith-breakfast guests and justify his tax policies, Obama declares good works to be the essence of religiosity. Yet he turns around and, through Sebelius, tells the faithful who engage in good works that what they’re doing is not religion at all. You want to do religion? Get thee to a nunnery. You want shelter from the power of the state? Get out of your soup kitchen and back to your pews. Outside, Leviathan rules.

We see this same new definition in the government’s failed litigation in the Hosanna-Tabor case. It’s basically the same one used in the former Soviet Union, which provided for “religious freedom” in its constitution, construed as private interior beliefs, while at the same time forbidding evangelism, worship, education, religious child-raising, and any other external expression of religion in actual life.

 

[Cathryn]

Thank you for this post. The Catholic Church is catholic, universal. This is one of the four marks of the Catholic Church one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. We serve all mankind. Christ sacrificed himself for all mankind. This is what President Obama doesn’t get. This teaching goes back two thousand years.

 

[bogeydogg]

Well what do you expect from the world anyway? They will always claim the good for themselves and the religious as kooks. Be prepared to suffer for Christ because he isgoing to be re-elected.

God Bless

 

[afungusamongus]

What where people expecting when they elected a socialist? A Saint?

 

[hn160]

Quite a few of the politicians that support Obama’s re-defining of religion in the Constitution are Roman Catholic, If the Roman Church was serious about abortion in the Obama health care package it would put a ban on Catholic politicians receiving the Sacraments of the Church.

 

[TimothyH]

It’s worse than Charles Krauthammer describes.

They have totally eliminated religion, and now call it “Freedom of worship” instead. Now anything that happens outside of a Sunday Church service is not subject to the first ammendment in their minds. This has been happening since 2009.

I also have to ask what people expected when they elected this man. He has stated over and over that he want to “Radically transform America.” He promised a radical transformation of America in his campaign, and was elected on that promise. What did anyone expect?

-Tim-

 

[jlhargus]

The Constitution carves out space for religion so that it does not fall under government jurisdiction. So, as Charles Krauthammer points out, the government, which currently demands jurisdiction over everything, is re-defining religion:

We see this same new definition in the government’s failed litigation in the Hosanna-Tabor case. It’s basically the same one used in the former Soviet Union, which provided for “religious freedom” in its constitution, construed as private interior beliefs, while at the same time forbidding evangelism, worship, education, religious child-raising, and any other external expression of religion in actual life.

The Constitution carves out space for religion so that it does not fall under government jurisdiction. So, as Charles Krauthammer points out, the government, which currently demands jurisdiction over everything, is re-defining religion:

We see this same new definition in the government’s failed litigation in the Hosanna-Tabor case. It’s basically the same one used in the former Soviet Union, which provided for “religious freedom” in its constitution, construed as private interior beliefs, while at the same time forbidding evangelism, worship, education, religious child-raising, and any other external expression of religion in actual life.

JL: They seem to think the Church is separate from the people. The people are the Chruch. Those people minister thru chairities, hospitals etc… That IS the Church in action.

 

[JonNC]

Quite a few of the politicians that support Obama’s re-defining of religion in the Constitution are Roman Catholic, If the Roman Church was serious about abortion in the Obama health care package it would put a ban on Catholic politicians receiving the Sacraments of the Church.

Perhaps, we as Lutherans, ought to practice this as well. One has to wonder why George Tiller was allowed to commune at his Lutheran parish, it being ELCA notwithstanding.

Jon

 

[JonNC]

The Constitution carves out space for religion so that it does not fall under government jurisdiction. So, as Charles Krauthammer points out, the government, which currently demands jurisdiction over everything, is re-defining religion:

We see this same new definition in the government’s failed litigation in the Hosanna-Tabor case. It’s basically the same one used in the former Soviet Union, which provided for “religious freedom” in its constitution, construed as private interior beliefs, while at the same time forbidding evangelism, worship, education, religious child-raising, and any other external expression of religion in actual life.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Matthew 25

Seems the good secretary has forgotten that this IS part of our religion.

Jon

 

[Kc906]

Quite a few of the politicians that support Obama’s re-defining of religion in the Constitution are Roman Catholic, If the Roman Church was serious about abortion in the Obama health care package it would put a ban on Catholic politicians receiving the Sacraments of the Church.

I couldn’t agree more; if a member of the Catholic Church is elected to represent the people of this country, and their direct actions/votes would result in all Catholics (including the institutions run by them) having to contribute money to things that are in direct opposition to God; then how could that not be grounds to Excommunicate? On the day of our judgement God is going to say “this is the eternal fate you have chosen for yourself.” We end up judging ourselves, God laid out the path of rightousness, but our choices throughout our lifetime will ultimately volunteer us to Heaven or Hell based on our actions, but of course we always have God’s grace and mercy.

Catholics in congress who have put this burden on the Body of Christ are leading all of us to sin without us having a choice in the matter. In my opinion this is a very grave matter, and a Bishop or perhaps the Pope himself would need to decide on the good standing of several Catholics in congress who voted for this to happen.

 

[IggyAntiochus]

Perhaps, we as Lutherans, ought to practice this as well. One has to wonder why George Tiller was allowed to commune at his Lutheran parish, it being ELCA notwithstanding.

Jon

I think the denomination of that parish pretty well explains it!

 

[hn160]

Perhaps, we as Lutherans, ought to practice this as well. One has to wonder why George Tiller was allowed to commune at his Lutheran parish, it being ELCA notwithstanding.

Jon

George Tiller was ELCA, the national Church has a weak policy on abortion, their health policy for women which includes women pastors includes abortion.

 

[JonNC]

George Tiller was ELCA, the national Church has a weak policy on abortion, their health policy for women which includes women pastors includes abortion.

Yes, I know. that’s why I said it was ELCA. Still, I’m sure there are Lutherans in the LCMS that support candidates who support abortion. And one has to wonder, with our rather congregational approach to polity, if there wold be LCMS parishes wh would have communed him had he been LCMS.
My only point was what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Jon