Highlights of S.K. Carl A. Anderson's Address # 2

Highlights of S.K. Carl A. Anderson’s Address - #2

“14 Highlights from the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Carl A. Anderson’s Address at the National Catholic Breakfast on April 19th, 2012 in Washington, D.C.”

#8) Similarly, the HHS mandate allows only the narrowest exemption for religious institutions. The exemption exists only for institutions that, among other things, hire and serve only members of their own faith … Christians are called to reach beyond their own denominations in teaching, “all nations,” considering everyone their “neighbor,” and doing “good to those who hate you” them… In its HHS mandate, the Administration insists on an exemption so narrow that organizations can qualify only by violating the teachings of their church. …

#9) A government willing to affect the faith and mission of the church is a government willing to change the identity of the church. And what can we expect in the future?

The National Right to Life Committee makes a compelling case that the Obama Administration’s “accommodation” for the HHS mandate - if accepted - paves the way for mandated coverage of “abortion on demand.”

#10) Healthcare workers now face the choice of holding onto either their religious beliefs or their jobs. In other words, if the health care institution provides services contrary to Catholic moral teaching, Catholic doctors and nurses need not apply. And so, we see a new government intolerance of religion.

#11) Perhaps this is why Cardinal Francis George has referred to the Obama Administration as “the most secularist administration I think we have ever had in this country.: During his visit to Washington Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that: “Christians are easily tempted to conform themselves to the spirit of this age.” The spirit of the age is profoundly secular. And secularism accepts religion … only on its own terms.

#12) And it is precisely this subordination of religion to the state that the First Amendment seeks to prevent. Let us be clear: we value religious liberty not only6 because it protects our personal autonomy. We value religious liberty because of the good which religion brings into the life of the individual believer and into the life of our nation.

#13) How appropriate then that our bishops have called upon us to take up a great fortnight of prayer for religious freedom from the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More to July 4th.

During the current HHS controversy some have asked, “What kind of Christians would impose such a government mandate on our religious institutions? In December, 1941, with Britain in mortal peril and America reeling after Pearl Harbor, Winston Churchill addressed the United States Congress. In that worst of times, he scorned the enemies of freedom and defiantly asked, “What kind of people do they think we are!” Today, with the same defiance, we can declare, “What kind of Catholics do they think we are!”

#14) Earlier this month [of April) we observed the anniversary of the death of Blessed John Paul II. … recall his words at the beginning of his great pontificate: “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.” … John Paul II often spoke of “a new springtime” of the gospel… he might have spoken of a Great Awakening in America. One in which Catholics could play a greater role than ever before… So this is a time for choosing - choosing whether as Catholics we will stand together to keep open the doors of religious liberty… Thank you very much.

“A Public Service Meet Your Neighbor Info by the blogger ‘cinops be gone’ - Wed., July 11, 2012”