Tuesday 12 June 2012

It's time for peaceful resistance to Obama's "wicked" regulation

Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro (right), the executive director of Human Life International‘s (HLI) office in Rome, Italy, has written an article on the need for Catholics in America to refuse to comply with the mandate from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, issued under The Affordable Care Act, which would force religious institutions to provide funding for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraception.

Monsignor Barreiro summarises the grave threat posed by the Affordable Care Act, saying:
"Under the Affordable Care Act the government is forcing almost all religious institutions to pay for insurance that must fully cover abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraception, or face stiff penalties. This legal mandate is not only a threat to all Christians, but to all persons of good will who cherish the rights recognized by the U.S. Constitution."
It is encouraging to see that the US Catholic Bishops Conference is taking a similarly strong line against the proposals. With reference to the HHS Mandate, the bishops said in their June newsletter:
"Some unjust laws impose such injustices on individuals and organizations that disobeying the laws may be justified. Every effort must be made to repeal them. When fundamental human goods, such as the right of conscience, are at stake, we may need to witness to the truth by resisting the law and incurring its penalties."
Dr James Dobson, a well respected American Evangelical leader, has also voiced his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, saying:
""I will not pay the surcharge for abortion services...So come and get me if you must, Mr. President. I will not bow before your wicked regulation"
This united and widespread opposition to the act was manifested in rallies in 160 American cities this past weekend, with tens of thousands involved in total.

Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk
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