Religious Freedom at Work
We work at our jobs every day. When work consumes us day to day, we can easily forget that our jobs are part of a bigger world. Most of us remember that the bigger world includes God and our family. But it also includes our country.
Right now, the Church in the U.S. asks us to stand up to our government and its "HHS Mandate." The Bishops have written a prayer for all Catholics to say at Mass between June 21st and July 4th. In case you can't get to daily Mass, here's the prayer. You can recite it yourself:
If you're not sure what the fuss is about, here's a quick summary.
The U.S. Constitution is under attack. This may not be news to some of us. Some of us realize that the federal government has whittled away at the Constitution for years. But today I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about one of the most blatant and outrageous attacks on the Constitution ever by the federal government.
The federal government now requires all institutions who offer health insurance, including religious institutions, to offer insurance coverages that include contraceptive products and services. The Catholic Bishops of the U.S. have taken a strong stand against this requirement. Their efforts have gotten most of the media attention, although this is not a strictly Catholic issue. This is a Constitutional issue.
The first sentence of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
Can this statement possibly be any clearer? The first part means that the federal government may not declare any particular religion as the official religion of the state. The second part means that each of us may exercise his or her religion freely - without impediment. The state may not impose restrictions or requirements on any religion, as that would interfere with the free exercise of religion.
Apparently the federal government has decided that the First Amendment either doesn't apply to it, or the government has interpreted this clear statement in some different manner, or (possibly) they have found that some other more important "right" supersedes our First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.
I know you're busy at work. But some things are so important in the world outside work, they take precedence. This is one of them. If you haven't prayed today as the Bishops requested, please re-read what I've posted carefully and then pray the prayer the Bishops ask us to pray.
Right now, the Church in the U.S. asks us to stand up to our government and its "HHS Mandate." The Bishops have written a prayer for all Catholics to say at Mass between June 21st and July 4th. In case you can't get to daily Mass, here's the prayer. You can recite it yourself:
O God our Creator, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and
given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and
your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your
Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the
world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every
corner of society.
We ask you to bless us in our vigilance
for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and
heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us
courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your
Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a
clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your
Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with
every trial withstood and every danger overcome—for the sake of our
children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us—this great land
will always be “one nation, under God,indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.”
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
If you're not sure what the fuss is about, here's a quick summary.
The U.S. Constitution is under attack. This may not be news to some of us. Some of us realize that the federal government has whittled away at the Constitution for years. But today I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about one of the most blatant and outrageous attacks on the Constitution ever by the federal government.
The federal government now requires all institutions who offer health insurance, including religious institutions, to offer insurance coverages that include contraceptive products and services. The Catholic Bishops of the U.S. have taken a strong stand against this requirement. Their efforts have gotten most of the media attention, although this is not a strictly Catholic issue. This is a Constitutional issue.
The first sentence of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
Can this statement possibly be any clearer? The first part means that the federal government may not declare any particular religion as the official religion of the state. The second part means that each of us may exercise his or her religion freely - without impediment. The state may not impose restrictions or requirements on any religion, as that would interfere with the free exercise of religion.
Apparently the federal government has decided that the First Amendment either doesn't apply to it, or the government has interpreted this clear statement in some different manner, or (possibly) they have found that some other more important "right" supersedes our First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.
I know you're busy at work. But some things are so important in the world outside work, they take precedence. This is one of them. If you haven't prayed today as the Bishops requested, please re-read what I've posted carefully and then pray the prayer the Bishops ask us to pray.
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