PORTLAND, Maine — Catholic bishops are taking their fight with the Obama administration over the requirement that contraceptives be offered to enrollees in all health care plans to Maine parishes this summer.
Bishop Richard Malone, head of the Roman Catholic diocese of Portland, announced Friday that churches in Maine would take part in the nationwide “Fortnight for Freedom — a great hymn of prayer for our country” between June 21 and July 4.
The fortnight was established in response to numerous recent actions taken by the government that interfere or prevent institutions and individuals from acting in accordance with their deeply held moral beliefs, according to the press release issued by Marc Mutty, public policy director of the diocese.
That two-week period includes the memorials of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher, martyrs described as “remaining faithful in the face of persecution by political power.” Both men opposed King Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church. They were canonized together on June 22, 1935, by Pope Pius XI.
“Religious liberty is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or to pray the rosary at home,” Malone said in the press release. “It is about whether we can continue to make our contribution to the common good of all Americans without violating our deeply-held moral beliefs.
“This issue affects all Americans — it is not a Catholic issue, a Jewish issue, an Orthodox, Mormon, or Muslim issue,” he said. “It is an American issue.”
The fortnight will focus on education and awareness, the press release said. Special events are planned to highlight the importance of defending religious liberty. A special Mass will be celebrated by Malone at 12:15 p.m. Monday, July 2, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.
Other possible events may include bell ringing by all churches, displaying of flags by faithful Catholics and ecumenical discussions on religious freedom, according to the press release.
Any public action would be nonconfrontational, according to Malone.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the fortnight campaign last month in a 12-page document titled “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty.” It was written by the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.
Malone is not a member of the group.
I don’t understand why offering contraceptives is offensive to Catholic morality. The choice remains with each individual; no one is forcing anyone to actually use them. Given the steadily declining size of most Catholic families in America, I would say that the choice already has been made: Many Catholics ARE ALREADY using contraceptives! The leadership of the Catholic Church doesn’t seriously believe the “Rhythm Method” works better in the 21st century than it did in previous eras, do they?!
This is s a great opportunity for the Catholic Church here in America to not only educate their own flock (which they have failed miserably) but to educate non Catholics on why the Church believes what it does. Most Catholics have never heard it explained to them why the Church opposes contraception. When I talk to most Catholics they are clueless on what their church believes. In order to make a decision regarding an issue you need to have the facts first.
I’m sure most Catholics are very uncomfortable with this issue, because they have chosen to remain ignorant on why God is opposed to contraception.
There’s no reason to believe that God is opposed to the use of contraception. It’s the Roman Catholic Church that disapproves.
The Roman Catholic Church is an archiac structure. 98% of catholics use contraception, the size of the families is the proof. One to three children is the norm, the days of ten children are gone. The Bishops are out of touch with reality.
The Vatican is currently on a witch hunt against the Nuns and their Convents. They are investigating these women because they spend too much time on social justice issues like caring for the poor people with food and shelter. The Vatican thinks they are subversive and not spending their time fighting against abortion, contraception and gay marriage. Which has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus.
Words of the Pope come to mind: “irrationality and fanaticism”. I apply this to the Bishops.
You don’t know Catholic teaching well, and you don’t know just how far that so many nuns have strayed from that Catholic teaching. Please become more informed before you criticize the Faith that was handed on to us by Jesus Christ himself.
So enlighten me and tell me how the Nuns have “strayed” from the teachings of Jesus. I don’t see it. Please give us your tightly held knowledge.
One can only hope they are as successful as they were in stamping out protestantism in England. How many people did Bloody Mary kill in her attempt?