Announcements & News

United for Religious Freedom:  The Bishops' Statement of Religious Freedom and the HHS Mandate

A Statement of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

March 14, 2012

The Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, gathered for its March 2012 meeting, is strongly unified and intensely focused in its opposition to the various threats to religious freedom in our day. In our role as Bishops, we approach this question prayerfully and as pastors—concerned not only with the protection of the Church's own institutions, but with the care of the souls of the individual faithful, and with the common good.

To address the broader range of religious liberty issues, we look forward to the upcoming publication of "A Statement on Religious Liberty," a document of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. This document reflects on the history of religious liberty in our great Nation; surveys the current range of threats to this foundational principle; and states clearly the resolve of the Bishops to act strongly, in concert with our fellow citizens, in its defense.

One particular religious freedom issue demands our immediate attention: the now-finalized rule of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that would force virtually all private health plans nationwide to provide coverage of sterilization and contraception—including abortifacient drugs—subject to an exemption for "religious employers" that is arbitrarily narrow, and to an unspecified and dubious future "accommodation" for other religious organizations that are denied the exemption.

We begin, first, with thanks to all who have stood firmly with us in our vigorous opposition to this unjust and illegal mandate: to our brother bishops; to our clergy and religious; to our Catholic faithful; to the wonderful array of Catholic groups and institutions that enliven our civil society; to our ecumenical and interfaith allies; to women and men of all religions (or none at all); to legal scholars; and to civic leaders. It is your enthusiastic unity in defense of religious freedom that has made such a dramatic and positive impact in this historic public debate. With your continued help, we will not be divided, and we will continue forward as one.

Second, we wish to clarify what this debate is—and is not—about. This is not about access to contraception, which is ubiquitous and inexpensive, even when it is not provided by the Church's hand and with the Church's funds. This is not about the religious freedom of Catholics only, but also of those who recognize that their cherished beliefs may be next on the block. This is not about the Bishops' somehow "banning contraception," when the U.S. Supreme Court took that issue off the table two generations ago. Indeed, this is not about the Church wanting to force anybody to do anything; it is instead about the federal government forcing the Church—consisting of its faithful and all but a few of its institutions—to act against Church teachings. This is not a matter of opposition to universal health care, which has been a concern of the Bishops' Conference since 1919, virtually at its founding. This is not a fight we want or asked for, but one forced upon us by government on its own timing. Finally, this is not a Republican or Democratic, a conservative or liberal issue; it is an American issue.

So what is it about?  Read more...

March 15, 2012

Priest Warns Obama & Richards: Better Knock the Catholic Church Out Now

Fr. John Hollowell has a say and so do we.

March 2, 2012

Archbishop Sartain and Bishop Elizondo Urge Action

"In a very grave violation of our religious liberty, the proposed abortion-insurance mandate before the Washington State Legislature similarly would place the Church, Catholic health care and all Catholic organizations and employers in an absolutely impossible situation.

We, the bishops of the Archdiocese of Seattle, have an obligation to make you aware of the seriousness of the situation and to ask for prayer and action to turn back these efforts to deny our constitutionally guaranteed right to religious liberty as a church. In generations past, the people of God, the Church, has always stood up to protect our sacred rights. Today we are again called upon to stand up for these rights. We will do so as loyal Americans and loyal Catholics." (Archbishop Sartain and Bishop Elizondo, Feb. 7, 2012)

Please visit the Archdiocesan website to read the letter in its entirety and to take action.

February 10, 2012

40 Days for Life

The largest ever spring 40 Days for Life campaign begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, and runs through April 1.  Washington state locations include:

Everett

Issaquah

Olympia

Renton

Spokane

Tacoma

Tri-Cities

Please make every effort to participate in this peaceful 40 Day vigil for Life.

February 9, 2012

Bishop's Statement and New Resources on Assisted Suicide

At their meeting today, June 16, in Bellevue, the U.S. bishops approved a new statement concerning physician-assisted suicide. In addition to the statement, the USCCB is also providing several new resources that are available now on the following website: www.usccb.org/toliveeachday.

The statement, To Live Each Day with Dignity, passed with a vote of 191-1. It marks the first time the full body of bishops has issued a statement devoted to this issue.

Countering two claims of the assisted suicide movement, that its agenda affirms patients’ “choices” and expresses “compassion” for their suffering, the statement says physician-assisted suicide does not promote compassion because its focus is not on eliminating suffering, but on eliminating the patient. The statement argues that assisted suicide is not an addition to palliative care, but a poor substitute that can ultimately become an excuse for denying better medical care to seriously ill people, including those who never considered suicide an option. It concludes by advancing what Pope John Paul II called “the way of love and true mercy,” and calls on Catholics to work with others to uphold the right of each person to live with dignity.

Jim Thomas
June 16, 2011