About the HHS Mandate

Brother Knights,

Since the January 20th announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the upcoming enforcement of regulations requiring mandatory coverage of contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs with no conscience protection, State Deputy Dave Helmstetter and the Ohio State Council have received numerous requests for advice and guidance from councils across the state on how to respond to this alarming issue. As State Pro Life Director, the State Deputy asked me to provide guidance for members and local councils. With this in mind, I would first like to address what the edict means for Catholics and Catholic institutions, then provide resources to help guide your response to this edict in the hopes of overturning it.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has written an article entitled, "Six Things Everyone Should Know About The HHS Mandate"  View it here: http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-021.cfm.  In summary:

Ø   The mandate does not exempt Catholic charities, schools, universities, or hospitals.

Ø   The mandate forces these institutions and others, against their conscience, to pay for things they consider immoral.

Ø   The mandate forces coverage of sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs and devices as well as contraception.

Ø   Catholics of all political persuasions are unified in their opposition to the mandate.

Ø   Many other religious and secular people and groups have spoken out strongly against the mandate.

Ø   The federal mandate is much stricter than existing state mandates.

So how do we, as loyal members of the Knights of Columbus, respond to this organized attack on our religious liberties? First of all, become informed, and then take action! Consider the following:

1.      1.  Learn how the USCCB has vowed to fight this coercive HHS mandate. Visit the Conscience Protection page at: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm. There, you will also be able to view a short video of USC.C.B. President Cardinal Timothy Dolan where he responds to a misleading February 1 blog post by the White House.

2.  Hear an incredibly powerful homily given on February 5 by Fr. Sammie L. Maletta, Jr., pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in St. John, Indiana. Fr. Sammie's thoughts cut right to the heart of the current crisis of religious liberty. This is one item you will definitely want to pass on to everyone you know! Hear it here: http://youtu.be/ltTd81XpDnc

3.      3. Watch an insightful video of Fr. Robert Barron as he comments on how anti-Catholic and un-American the HHS tactics are: http://www.wordonfire.org/WOF-TV/Commentaries-New/Fr-Barron-comments-on-the-HHS-Mandate.aspx.

4.      4. Visit the Supreme Council website: www.kofc.org. You will find some very informative articles and videos, e.g., an article by Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori entitled, Envisioning Religious Liberty. In it, Bishop Lori outlines how our U.S. bishops, assisted by the faithful, will work to combat current and future threats to religious freedom. You'll also find Supreme Knight Carl Anderson's February 15 op-ed piece in National Review Magazine entitled, The HHS Mandate: One Battle in a Two-Front War.

5.      5. Obtain a PDF copy of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship from the U.S.C.C.B. at: www.faithfulcitizenship.org. It is chock full of ideas and suggestions, including how to contact your legislators in Washington in several different ways from writing letters to phone calls and even personal visits.

6.      6. Support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act via an Action Alert from the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA). You can send an email to Congress here: http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292.

7.      7. Sign up for future Action Alerts from the USCCB: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/take-action-now/capwiz/capwiz-signup.cfm.

8.      8. Pass on the above information to all Catholics and members of other Christian denominations.

9.      9. Pray the following prayer for our elected officials and those affected by their work:

Gracious and loving God, let your Spirit be with us (me) today. Hear our (my) prayers, and increase in us (me) the will to follow your Son Jesus. Help us (me) to draw on the resources of our (my) faith as we (I) use the opportunities of our democracy to shape a society more respectful of the life, dignity, and rights of the human person, especially the poor and vulnerable. We (I) ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Amen

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Anderson

State Pro-Life Director

February 24, 2012

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Over 100 Cities to Rally against HHS Mandate on June 8

Priests for Life, the Pro-Life Action League, and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society are pleased to announce that the next Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally will take place on Friday, June 8, in cities and towns across the United States.

The June 8 Stand Up Rally builds on the tremendous momentum created by the first Stand Up Rally on March 23.

On that day, over 63,000 Americans came out in 145 cities coast to coast pushed back against the new mandate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires all employers provide free contraceptives, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs through their health plans, even in violation of their consciences.

Now the fight continues with the next Stand Up Rally on Friday, June 8.

Right now the entire Obamacare law, with its oppressive mandates and abortion loopholes, is under review by the United States Supreme Court. A ruling is coming at the end of June.

If the Supreme Court strikes down Obamacare, the June 8 Rally sets the agenda for future health care reform, demanding respect for religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

But if the Court leaves Obamacare intact, the June 8 Rally advances our demand that the HHS Mandate must go.

Come out on June 8, 2012—the 223rd anniversary of the day our Founding Father James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights, with its guarantee of religious freedom, to the First Congress—and stand up for religious freedom!

The Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom was a peaceful, family-friendly, non-partisan, ecumenical event. For more information, please see the Rally Guidelines and Protocols, below.

Cities and Towns Participating in the June 8 Rally

Ohio

Cincinnati

Fountain Square

520 Vine Street (map)

Email the Cincinnati Rally Captain

Columbus

John W. Bricker Federal Building

200 North High Street (map)

Email the Columbus Rally Captain

Dayton

Site to be determined.

Email the Dayton Rally Captain

Toledo

Lucas County Courthouse

700 Adams Street (map)

Email the Toledo Rally Captain

Rally Guidelines and Protocols

The Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom welcomes all participants, of whatever religious persuasion -- and even those of no religious faith -- who are united by support for and desire to protect the United States Constitution's First Amendment right of religious liberty currently under attack by the HHS Mandate.

It is not the purpose of these Rallies to promote or advocate for any political party or political movement. Thus Rally participants are asked to not bring political party or candidate signage to the rallies or distribute such literature.

All those who attend are expected to comport themselves peacefully at all times while asserting their Constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

Families, even those with small children, should feel at home and comfortable attending this Rally.

If opposition protests are conducted, Rally participants will not engage counter demonstrators or hecklers with loud verbal argumentation, name-calling or derogatory remarks, nor will such opponents be physically engaged in any way.

Any interference with Rally participants' rights to freedom of speech and assembly will be referred to police authorities by local Rally leaders.

If Rally participants are approached by media for comment, they should refer reporters and journalists to local rally coordinators for an interview.

Last Modified

Sunday, May 13, 2012 10:16:27 AM

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