Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Cardinal Burke - Stop "Grievous Assault on Religious Freedom" Sign This Petition!

Cardinal Raymond Burke Encourages Catholics to Sign Online Petition to Stop the Birth Control Mandate

Cardinal Raymond Burke, Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, sent a written message of support to St. Gianna Physician’s Guild over the weekend encouraging Catholics to sign the organization’s online petition (www.StopTheBirthControlMandate.org) to protest the assault on religious liberty that is happening under ObamaCare. The petition has steadily gained momentum since its launch last August seeing the number of signatures more than double since January 20th. This is after the Department of Health and Human Services released a statement confirming that the mandate would go into effect as scheduled on August 1, 2012. An extension of one year was given to Catholic institutions and other entities to comply.  This mandate does not provide a conscience clause for institutions and others who believe contraception and sterilization are immoral.
Stop the Birth Control Mandate petition asks that the Obama Administration and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, withdraw immediately all references to contraception and contraception counseling from the “Guidelines for Women’s Preventive Services” under The Affordable Care Act. Moreover, it petitions the administration to provide a conscience clause to protect the religious freedom and beliefs of Catholics.
In his letter Cardinal Burke declared:
I wholeheartedly express my solidarity with the Stop The Birth Control Mandate petition promoted by St. Gianna Physician's Guild protesting the recent decree by the Department of Health and Human Services of our federal government.  I encourage Catholics to sign the petition and thus unite their support of Holy Mother Church by protesting the most grievous violation of the right to religious liberty for Catholics in the United States.
 
Cardinal Burke has long had the reputation of providing guidance in areas of faith and morals through his willingness to make public statements to encourage the Faithful.
 
“The petition sends a clear message to the Obama Administration that this contraception mandate is wrong, discriminatory and violates the religious rights of Catholics all across America,” stated the Guild’s President, Thomas McKenna. McKenna noted that already more than 150 Catholic bishops across the country have written letters decrying the mandate. “It is inspiring to see the bishops speaking out with such determination and moral clarity in encouraging the faithful to oppose the mandate. St. Gianna Physician’s Guild applauds their leadership,” McKenna continued.
 
The petition has provided Catholics and people of all faiths an outlet to express their outrage in what many feel is an act of government tyranny. The petition was posted on the Archdiocese of Denver’s web site and has resulted in parishioners collecting signatures after weekend Masses.
 
St Gianna Physician’s Guild (www.StGiannaPhysicians.org) was founded to unite and encourage Catholic physicians, as well as others in the health care profession, to promote and defend Catholic principles in a public way and to inspire sanctification in their lives. The petition can be signed at: www.StopTheBirthControlMandate.org.
 
Source:

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Rosary Campaign for Religious Freedom

As converts (1984) it seems like the Church my family joined is in danger. Not only the one we joined, but the the others we attended to get to our permanent spiritual home on earth.

The government's tentacles are reaching into the lives of sixteen three-year-old preschoolers by not allowing them to say grace and mention God, safeguarding a government grant. (I just found this out regarding a grandchild.) How do we tell children "God's not allowed in school."

You'd think that the government would appreciate a world of order for children, but alas, they would probably much rather have an "Occupy Preschool" movement encouraging children to
break toys and kick teachers.

This message is a day or two into the first novena. Better late than never aka a convert's ignorance on whether it "counts" if we're late

Facebook has one of the Grassroots efforts to help keep our religious freedom.  We will never regret not including these novenas in our prayers, but we'll regret not doing it.
Thanks Angie for the heads up.


Rosary Campaign for Religious Freedom


On January 20, 2012, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Obama administration would uphold a mandate that would force Catholic institutions to subsidize--through their health care plans--contraception, sterilization procedures and pharmaceuticals that even result in abortion. This is a serious encroachment on religious freedom, which forces Catholic employers not only to consent to, but also directly engage in practices that are morally incompatible with the Catholic Faith and are gravely sinful.

The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States have unanimously agreed to fight this mandate relentlessly. We should also do our part in the public square, making our voices heard to our respective Senators and Representatives.

But we can't fight this battle unarmed. This war on Religious Freedom and the protection of Conscience is a supernatural war, and we need Divine assistance.

So, beginning on February 1, please join us in an 18 day Rosary Novena for the overturning of this mandate and for the conversion of the politicians who are trying to impose this upon us. Please pray a daily Rosary for 18 days for the following intentions
 
Day 1-9

For the overturning of the HHS mandate that would require Catholic institutions to provide health insurance plans to their employees, subsidizing contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs. And for the conversion of our politicians

Day 10-18

In thanksgiving for our prayers being answered.

Please stand up for your Religious Liberty, and storm Heaven with your prayers.

"Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will."--Mark 11:23-24

He's given us His Word.