Tag: religious liberty

On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Protecting our first freedom

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Many of the early settlers to our land came to  America in order to practice their faith freely.

It was so important that the very First Amendment to the United States Constitution says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Threats to religious liberty

However, what Pope Benedict XVI has called the “most cherished of American freedoms” — our religious liberty — is being threatened in many ways. We have heard much discussion about the Health and Human Services mandate requiring insurance coverage of contraception, sterilization, and abortion. But that is not the only way freedom of religion and conscience is being threatened today.

Read More
On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

United for religious freedom: Let’s join our bishops in standing up and praying for religious liberty

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

The Catholic bishops of the United States have called on all Catholics to unite in opposition to various threats to religious freedom in our country.

At a meeting of the bishops’ leaders in Washington, D.C., the bishops issued a statement on March 14 called “United for Religious Freedom.” The bishops said they are concerned not only with protecting the Church’s own institutions, but also with the care of individuals and the common good.

Read More
On
Greg Wagner

Mandate should be seen as attack on religious liberty

To the editor:

At a recent gathering at our parish, I overheard a group of people discussing the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate. The consensus of their conversation could be summed up as follows: “The bishops are getting way too riled up over this issue. It is an election year after all and the president will back down on this.”

As Archbishop Chaput stated, “The  current administration prides itself on being measured and deliberate. The current HHS mandate needs to be understood as exactly that.”

Read More
On
C.J. Kruchten

Suggests writer should consult catechism rather than party talking points

To the editor:

John Murphy’s letter (February 9 issue of Catholic Herald) claims that Newt Gingrich, in calling President Obama the “food stamp President,” meant to demean African-Americans.

Mr. Murphy should be advised that ascribing racist motives to someone without any supporting evidence is calumny and therefore, sinful. Whatever one may think of Mr. Gingrich, his basic point that food stamps and dependency have increased exponentially under this president is factually correct.

Read More
On
Florian Zalewski

Insurance mandate is clear violation of the Constitution

To the editor:

The struggle over the national government’s mandated financing of “reproductive health services” has, up to now, been mostly carried out under the religious liberty clause in the Bill of Rights. This is a sound, but somewhat limited, defense.

It should be remembered that the Bill of Rights was an afterthought to the original Constitution, only consented to after it looked like the adoption of the new Constitution would meet strong opposition.

Read More
On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Stand up for religious liberty and rights of conscience

Bishop Robert C. Morlino has written a letter to the faithful of the Diocese of Madison pertaining to the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requiring all health plans to cover contraception and sterilization free of charge. This ruling affects religious liberty and rights of conscience of millions of people in the United States.

All bishops in the United States are making similar statements and sending similar letters to the faithful in their dioceses. Bishop Morlino has asked that his letter be read, and distributed, at Masses on the weekend of January 28 to 29 in the Diocese of Madison.

Read More