Overview of Bishop Lori's Testimony on Religious Liberty

Overview of Bishop Lori’s: Testimony on Religious Liberty
Relentless pursuit of the truth: www.cinopsbegone.com – Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011

This is a must read: It is the testimony of Most Reverend William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, On behalf of the United Conference of Catholic Bishops – Before the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Oct. 26, 2011.This testimony will be discussed in future letters. Here are excerpts of the Introduction and the 3 parts to the testimony.

“I am here today representing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)… and as the newly appointed Chair of the USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.”

1…”Religious liberty is not merely one right among others, but enjoys a certain primacy. As the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI recently explained: “It is indeed the first of human rights, not only because it was historically the first to be recognized but also because it touches the constitutive dimension of man, his relationship with his creator.”.. .

Religious liberty is also prior to the state itself. It is not merely a privilege that the government grants us and so may take away at will… The Declaration of Independence boldly proclaimed as a self-evident truth that our inalienable rights are “endowed by our Creator” – not by the State… Finally, the Church teaches that these rights of religious freedom – prior to all other rights and even to the State, and protecting both individuals and institutions – are held not just by Catholics, but by all people, by virtue of their common humanity.”

2…”this great national legacy of religious liberty … has been subject to ever more frequent assault and ever more rapid erosion… a) In August, the U.S. Department of Health and Services (HHS) issued regulations to mandate the coverage of contraceptives (including abortifacients) and sterilization a “preventive services” in almost all private health insurance plans… b) In May, … USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services (MRS), will be barred from participating in the program because they cannot in conscience provide the “full range” of reproductive services – namely, abortion and contraception…

c) The State Department’s Agency for International Development (USAID) is increasingly requiring contractors, such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS), to provide comprehensive HIV prevention activities (including condom distribution) … to treat AIDS in Africa… d) The federal Department of Justice (DoJ) has ratcheted up its attack on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) BY MISCHARACTERIZING IT AS AN ACT OF BIGOTRY… But in July, the Department started filing briefs actively attacking DOMA’s constitutionality, claiming that supporters … have been motivated by bias and prejudice…

e)DoJ has also undermined religious liberty in the critically important “ministerial exception” case now pending before the Supreme Court, Hosanna Tabor v. EEOC. f) In New York, county clerks face legal action for refusing to participate in same-sex unions… In Illinois, Catholic Charities has been driven out of the adoption and foster care business, because it recognizes the unique value of man-woman marriage or the well-being of children.”

3. … “There are three important bipartisan bills currently in the Congress: the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358), the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 361) and the Respect Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179). All three go a long way towards guaranteeing religious liberty and freedom of conscience for the religious employers, health insurers, and health care providers.”

George H. Kubeck, the question is, “How can we get the above information to the parishioners in the pews?” Catholic Advocate is launching a petition to protect religious freedom. Please access. http://www.lifesitenews.com/home/print_article/news/32185