HHS Mandate – Updates
As you have heard by now, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Patient Care and Affordability Act (AKA The Health Care Act and ObamaCare). This means that the HHS Mandate, forcing religious organizations with an employee health plan to provide coverage that includes contraception (which often acts as an abortifacient) and sterilization procedures. This goes into effect on August 1 of this year. The US Catholic Bishops are continuing to speak and act against this, as should we as practical Catholics. Below are updates on some recent events that have occurred in support of religious freedom locally.
I, along with about 450 others, attended the Rally for Religious Freedom on June 8 at the west steps of the State Capitol. The Sacramento rally was one of 140 similar rallies across America held that day. Several speakers at the local rally addressed the concern and desire to protect our religious freedom. One of the speakers, Dr. Anne Marie Adams, an OB-GYN who practices in Carmichael, summed up the effect of the HHS Mandate on her practice by telling those gathered that “I shouldn’t have to be a religious institution to be able to exercise my religious freedom.” More info on the rallies from across the country can be found at:
http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ .
On the evening of June 9, I, along with at least one other Knight of our council (I hope more of you were there and I missed seeing you), joined Bishop Soto and approximately 1,000 other Catholics on the Walk for Religious Freedom/Eucharistic Procession that followed the Saturday vigil mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. There were three prayer stations along the 1.8 mile walk – two federal buildings and our final destination, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A nice synopsis of the procession by Margaret Bengs of Carmichael can be found here:
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/16/v-print/4566032/somber-mood-of-march-reflects.html.
Finally, as I write this, we are in the Fortnight for Freedom that started on the vigil of the feasts of St. John Fisher & St. Thomas More and runs through July 4, Independence Day. Concretely, our Bishops are calling for a “special period of prayer, study, catechesis and public action” to emphasize “our Christian and American heritage of liberty.” If you haven’t already, please take some time to understand what the Church teaches about religious freedom. We should also make extra prayers and fasts for this cause. For more info on this teaching and about the US Bishop’s direction to help us defend our religious liberty, go to http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/. Additional journalism can be found at www.stophhs.com.
Thank you
I have been the Pro-Life/Culture of Life Director since July 2003 and I will be transitioning out of my role. Brother Bill James (the newer member of our council with that name) will be taking over this director position. Brother Bill has enthusiasm for the position, which is the key to fulfilling with excellence any of our council director positions. Please give Brother Bill your full support.
It has been my honor during these last 9 years to provide the members and families of our council with timely and useful information regarding the life issues. It has also been my honor to walk and work alongside many of you at life events and gatherings such as Walk for Life-San Francisco and our Chili Cook-Off. So, many, many thanks and blessings to each of you for your support of our council’s pro-life program.
Vivat Jesus!
Dominic
Visit the 953 Culture of Life blog
If you haven’t checked out the blog, open your browser and head over to:
http://kofc953sacramentoprolife.blogspot.com/
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..” – Constitution of the United States of America, Amendment 1 (part of the “Bill of Rights”)
Dominic Ielati
Culture of Life Director
prolife(at)kofc953(dot)org