Catholic Entities Undermine U.S. Bishops' Authority

Catholic Entities Undermine U.S. Bishops’ Authority
In pursuit of the truth - www.cinopsbegoneblogspot.com - Monday, April 16/12
“Excerpts from National Catholic Register, April 8 - 21, 2012”

“The Obama administration and some Democratic congressmen have been quick to use a “divide and conquer” strategy by invoking these dissident groups as if they are legitimate Catholic authorities.

“The most prominent Catholic supporter of Obamacare has been the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), led by its president and CEO, Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity. Playing a supporting role for her have been officers of the Leadership Conference of Women’s Religious (LCWR) and the conference lobbying arm, Network, Sister Carol declined to be interviewed for this story.

“Nevertheless, Sister Carol and the other high-profile sisters who have publicly opposed the bishops’ position have been hailed by Obamacare supporters as having legitimate moral authority in the Church to counter the bishops… As a result, Keehan gave more permission to legislators who were conflicted about supporting the [Obamacare] bill.

“So what gives these sisters and CHA authority to grant “moral permission” for disagreeing with the nation’s bishops? Nothing. Neither the sisters nor the CHA hold any authority to speak for the Church on faith and morals.

“That authority belongs to the bishops alone, as Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., told Catholic News Services… spoke with Vatican officials about the public support of the CHA and LCWR for the so-called “accommodation” in the HHS mandate. The bishops have rejected the “accommodation” because it still requires religious institutions to provide insurance coverage for immoral services…

“Furthermore, the CRA and the LCWR are run by executives who often issue statements without polling their full memberships on policy positions, even though they often imply a consensus of those members when that isn’t the case.*

“For example, the LCWR Feb. 10 statement of support for the HHS “accommodation” was issued in the name of its three officers only. Similarly, the CHA’s Feb. 10 statement was released only under the name of Sister Carol Keehan.*…

“The LCWR has had ongoing disagreements with Church authorities for years, and, in 2001, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith warned the LCWR about several doctrinal errors it had made regarding homosexuality, ordination of women priests, etc…

“The CHA, on the other hand, is not an entity of the Catholic Church. It is not canonically erected, but it is merely a trade organization that engages in political lobbying and professional development…

“The CHA bylaws state: “The association shall maintain liaison and confer with the USCCB in those matters pertaining to religious and moral practice. However, glaringly absent from the bylaws is any reflection of a commitment to the teachings of the Catholic Church or the authority of the U.S. bishop… [Specifically The Catechism of the Cath. Ch.]

Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, R.I., “I am very much disappointed in the position that the CHA has taken under the leadership of Sister Carol Keehan on these last two issues - when Obamacare was passed and now with the debate over the HHS mandate. The whole debate over health care, and especially now the attack on the freedom of religion that will certainly affect the Catholic Church - this has been a moment of crisis and great anxiety for the Catholic Church… it’s disappointing that one of members of the family has abandoned us during this time.”…

George H. Kubeck -

* Thus far only 23 orders of women religious have posted on their websites statements supporting the bishops’ position against the HHS mandate. In all fairness, all sisters in their religious order need to have a secret vote. Sadly, this seems to be necessary. President Obama should not be the pope of the dissidents.