Obama edict - Catholic Church must participate in child sterilization?
FREE Catholic Classes
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in no uncertain terms that sterilization as contraception is an intrinsically evil act. So why is the President, alongside Kathleen Sebelius, a self-professed Catholic, insisting that the Church must now participate in this immoral activity? If there was any doubt that a battle royale is shaping up between the Obama administration and the Catholic Church, it should now be gone.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
3/19/2012 (1 decade ago)
Published in Politics & Policy
Keywords: Obama, contraception, sterilization, evil, mandate, HHS, catechism, catholic
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Catechism reads, "Fecundity is a good, a gift and an end of marriage. By giving life, spouses participate in God's fatherhood" (CCC #2398).
Naturally, if sterilization - intentionally used as contraception - interferes with this, then the act is immoral and a direct offense against God's loving plan. It also denigrates the dignity of the human person. The Catechism again explains:
"The regulation of births represents one of the aspects of responsible fatherhood and motherhood. Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception)" (CCC#2399).
Meanwhile, the HHS guidelines as written also include free sterilization for children, as young as 15.
On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that all student health plans covering female students in the United States must provide coverage for voluntary sterilization.
All other women -- and girls -- will get free sterilization whether they are covered by a private insurance plan or a government-subsidized program.
This edict is a slap in the face to the Catholic Church, a violation of the the first amendment's free exercise of religion, and a violation of the freedom of conscience. It is also an insult to the intelligence of the American people.
It is a fact that individuals, and couples, can choose by means of abstinence, to manage their fertility. In addition, the Church strongly recommends Natural Family Planning to married couples, a method which is not only highly effective in spacing births but also a great aid in planning them.
However, the U.S. government has every intention to provide expensive "services" and products to enable women to debase themselves; making of themselves mere sexual objects. The very action of providing such "services" and products in the name of health care is bad enough.
The so called "Affordable Care Act" ("Obamacare") treats women, and now girls, as though they have no self-control and are objects to be used rather than free persons. It also has the effect of treating pregnancy and fertility as if it they were an illness.
This will all now happen while the majority of Americans pay large amounts out-of-pocket for other needed medical procedures and medications often required to preserve their life.
And most egregiously, the Federal Government now seeks to compel the mandated participation of the Church and all individuals in this scheme, regardless of whether or not such participation violates the fundamental human right to religious freedom or the right to the free exercise of conscience.
According to an HHS press release, "Under the final rule, students will gain the same consumer protections other people with individual market insurance have, like a prohibition on lifetime limits and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing," or in other words, free unlimited access to contraception, abortion inducing drugs, and sterilization.
The HHS claims that religious colleges and universities will not have to arrange or pay for these services if the student has a private insurer. However, if the student does not have an insurer, the Church institution would be required to fulfill that role.
Additionally, the rule ignores the fact that some insurance is also provided directly by the Catholic Church and other religious and private organizations in and through their related service organizations. For example, hosptials, soup kitchens, outreaches to the poor and needy and social welfare organizations. The rule will in effect compel compliance which will violate the deeply held religious beliefs and conscience of members of the Church as well as countless others on moral grounds.
As mentioned above, the plan also applies to children, allowing girls as young as 15 years of age to undergo sterilization procedures.
And here's the ultimate offense: Confirming that the ideology is one which promotes the culture of death, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius even went on record earlier this month before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She said, "The reduction in the number of pregnancies compensates for the cost of contraception." Keep in mind, some of the so called "contraception" can act as an abortion inducing drug.
So despite record-breaking spending and deficits, the administration is adamant about this program because - it will save some money. In other words,contraception, abortion inducing drugs and sterilization cost less than pregnancy.
Children seem to be such a problem to this regime.
.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Introducing "Journey with the Messiah" - A Revolutionary Way to Experience the Bible
-
Pope Francis Calls Young Cancer Patients "Witnesses of Hope" During Audience at the Vatican
-
Senate to Vote on Protecting Babies Who Survive Abortions
-
Mel Gibson Prepares to Bring The Resurrection of the Christ to the Big Screen in 2025
-
Catholic Response to Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, January 11, 2025
- St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch: Saint of the Day for Saturday, January 11, 2025
- Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, December 31, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, January 10, 2025
- St. William of Bourges: Saint of the Day for Friday, January 10, 2025
- St. Theresa of the Child Jesus: Prayer of the Day for Monday, December 30, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.