The American Spectator : Caesar Overreaching Once Again

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The Obama Watch

Caesar Overreaching Once Again

By G. Tracy Mehan, III on 2.6.12 @ 6:07AM

Catholic Bishops draw a line in the sand.

What do political pundits Peggy Noonan, Chris Matthews, E.J. Dionne, Jr., and Mark Shields have in common?

Noonan, a former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan, is Catholic. Matthews and Dionne claim to be loyal but dissident Catholics at least on matters such as contraception (Dionne) and public policy on abortion (Matthews). Mark Shields, another Catholic, is a moderate Democrat.

But there is something other than their Catholicism that unites these very different political personae.

All of them have expressed shock, even outrage, and confusion over the Obama administration’s decision to coerce Catholic institutions — schools, universities, hospitals and other charities — to provide health insurance covering contraception, abortifacients and sterilization services, at their expense and against long-standing Church teaching, or face the prospect of either penalties or getting rid of their insurance plans and, possibly, closing their doors.

On Sunday Noonan told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that Obama’s decision detonated a “bomb,” the consequences of which the political class has yet to appreciate or fully comprehend. In her column in Saturday’s the Wall Street Journal, she flatly stated that this will cause Obama to lose the presidential election in November.

On his program last week, Matthews was conflicted given what he heard from the pulpit the previous Sunday and his evident regard for the President. Still, he featured a journalist from the Washington Post, a liberal, who saw this as major blunder. Matthews clearly appreciated the political problem for the administration given the history of fickle Catholic voters in presidential elections going back to the “Reagan Democrats” in 1980.

In columns and television appearances, Dionne and Shields joined a rising chorus of those left-of-center Catholics who feel betrayed given their steadfast support of Obamacare in the face of so many attacks from more conservative Catholics who argued that it funded abortion and abortifacients. Think of the sad tale of Michigan Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak, formerly a pro-life stalwart, beaten into submission by the White House and the Democratic caucus, who decided not to run for reelection after voting for Obamacare.

President Obama has disturbed a raging hornets’ nest of conscientious resistance given the truly monumental implications for the First Amendment and the James Madison’s vision of an authentically pluralist and tolerant society.

On a political level, Obama seems to have forgotten that Catholics are the “jump-ball” of American electoral politics, to use a phrase of my former boss, John Engler, who was a three-term Governor in Michigan. Or, maybe, the President is just blinded by a secularist ideology.

There are reports that, Sunday before last, over 70 percent of Catholics heard sermons from their pastors or read letters from their bishops excoriating this wretched decision by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a member of Obama’s cabinet. Washington, D.C.’s Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl is fully engaged and predicting ultimate success in reversing the Obama administration’s diktat.

This Sunday the percentage had to be over 80 percent. In the battleground state or Commonwealth of Virginia, the bishops sent out a joint letter on the subject that was read at many parishes including my own.

In their letter issued last Monday, January 30, Bishops Paul S. Loverde (Arlington) and Francis X. DiLorenzo (Richmond) wrote that they were addressing “an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.”

“The federal government, which claims to be ‘of, by, and for the people,’ has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people-the Catholic population-and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful,” opined Bishops Loverde and DiLorenzo. “In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty.”

In language not heard from a bishop since the days of Archbishop “Dagger John” Hughes, the first archbishop of New York City, Loverde and DiLorenzo, stated flatly, “We cannot-and we will not-comply with this unjust law.” Drawing a line in the sand, they asserted, forthrightly, “People of faith cannot be made second class citizens.”

“Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights.”

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About the Author

G. Tracy Mehan, III served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the administrations of both Presidents Bush. He is a consultant in Arlington, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (169) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Darin| 2.6.12 @ 6:43AM

If you read the "justification" for what HHS has imposed, it's clear they view pregancy as a disease to be prevented (contraception) or cured (abortion). Pregnancy is put in the same category as cancer and other diseases. Is this how modern liberals view pregnancy - as a disease to be prevented or cured? I don't see how the explanation could be otherwise based on how they treat it.

Alan Brooks| 2.6.12 @ 6:45PM

None of you truly care about the unborn/fetuses, you only care about your own children.

Pro- "life" wont sell anymore;
but keep plugging it anyway.. waste your time- not anyone else's, please.

Alan Brooks| 2.6.12 @ 6:46PM

"None of you truly care about the unborn/fetuses, you only care about your own children"

And your grandkids- that's all.

Ralph| 2.7.12 @ 4:29AM

@Alan - your cynical projection is sick. Any parent, having seen their child born and grow, feels protective of another's unborn -- that is called being human, having empathy. What pathology grants human rights based on traversing the birth canal? A majority of Americans are pro-life. Which puts you in the pro-death minority.

c. j. acworth| 2.6.12 @ 6:44AM

Interesting, isn't it? For radicals like Obama, the separation of church and state only runs in one direction. By the way, as an Evangelical protestant, I can tell you that there is a lot of anger in our community over this. I wonder what liberals like Jim Wallis will say to defend Obama. I certianly hope they will be challenged on the issue.

Vern Crisler| 2.6.12 @ 10:36AM

Yes, I think Protestants should stand side-by-side with Catholics on this issue. If they can do it to Catholics . . . .

spike59| 2.8.12 @ 6:41AM

we should and we do

KennesawJack| 2.8.12 @ 11:04AM

Vern, We do. Another thing, I don't think Obamarx can walk this back. The damage is already done and I don't think Catholics will trust him going forward but, if any Catholic thinks it's over if he roles back the regulation, they've got their head up their ass. As soon as he is re-elected, it gets reinstated.

Appleby| 2.6.12 @ 6:52AM

Why is it that so-called "liberal Catholics" can't see the stone wall until they bash their faces into it full tilt? Did they really think the day for "Choose You This Day Whom You Will Serve" would never come? Were they absent that day (or surfing the net for GoDaddy commercials) the day that part was taught?

For those of us who have always been sure what we believed in this regard, the battle will begin at once; and it would be a whole lot easier if we didn't have to kick and poke and drag our "liberal" brothers and sisters close enough to read the writing on the wall.

These are the end times, folks. It's too late to pretend you never heard any of this stuff before.

Melvin| 2.6.12 @ 8:15AM

Joseph| 2.6.12 @ 8:48AM

Agree. How do you explain the Jews voting 90% for Democrats and Obama when the Jewish Bible is also against abortion?

TrueBlue | 2.6.12 @ 11:44AM

Sometimes Tradition (purposely capitalized) is a bad thing. Jews have traditionally voted Democrat, back when the party actually WAS for the working man. It's just another example of people who refuse to notice the world changing around them and keep plodding along the same course.

W| 2.6.12 @ 11:59AM

Every person who works and pay taxes is a "working man." Somehow this term has been taken by the lefties to mean only union members who vote for the Democrats.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 1:42PM

The Torah demands'SMITING' and putting to the sword' the pregnant mother's and babies of conquored enemies. GOD INVEVTED and DEMANDS abortion. Without a sonigram, a 3 day waiting period and regardless of trimester.

I think we should take 1000 female convicts, impregnate them, and take their fetuses @ 20 weeks and see how many survive. We should do it on PPV so the entire country can WATCH and see the Right Wing argument die along with 90% of the nonviable NOTCHILDREN.

We'll do it in an NFL stadium, selected by lottery.

SeymourGlass| 2.6.12 @ 2:04PM

"I think..." no, you don't. You "feel". It's not the same thing. Learn how to "think", then come back.

Trinacria| 2.6.12 @ 5:15PM

Amen, brother. Spot on.

Tony in Central PA| 2.6.12 @ 8:13PM

Yeah, the chorus of fools who cheered Obama and Notre Dame in 2009 are now asking " Wha' happened ? ".

Ric hard Baker| 2.6.12 @ 6:57AM

Well, better late than never. For the sometimes, lapsed, or just confused Catholics this is their great and glorious President telling them where to get off and expecting them to genuflect and cross themselves in his presence. After all, he IS the Messiah, isn't he?

W| 2.6.12 @ 12:09PM

This may be a win/win for Obama.

If the Catholic institutions go along, he wins. If they eliminate the health insurance for employees, then employees
will be covered under Obamacare and will think Obama has saved their health insurance benefit so they will think like wards of the nanny state and vote Democrat.

Along with reducing the benefit, this is the major reason to defeat Obama by voting for the Republican nominee and electing a Republican congress to repeal Obamacare.

Kenny| 2.6.12 @ 7:38AM

As a Catholic, I say that it is high time the Catholic bishops has spoken up about abortion.

The essentially sat silent as the most pro-abortion president got elected with a majority of Cathoolic votes.

And they never did anything significant while Democrat Catholics in political power pushed abortion and ObamaCare.

The sad fact is that the bishops for the most part are in accord with the welfare state and think their twisted idea of 'social justice' is some how what is moral and right.

Now that Obama has slapped therm across the face, do you think they'll wake up? I doubt. This pathetic generation of what passed for church leadership has to pass away first.

VonMisesJr| 2.6.12 @ 10:36AM

Kenny, perhaps Schoefield (whom I don't believe is human) should watch this movie called "The Silent Scream" and tell us what the fetus is:

http://www.silentscream.org/

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 1:43PM

See above rebuttal to this propaganda.

Derek Leaberry| 2.6.12 @ 1:50PM

To be fair, two-thirds of what are called "Catholics" are not practicing Catholics. For instance, just because Andrew Cuomo was baptized a Catholic and has partaken other Catholic sacraments, he does not live as a Catholic. In fact, Cuomo is probably living in mortal sin. Just because a "Catholic" was baptized as such and drags himself to Mass on Easter and Christmas, that does not mean he truly is a Catholic. Living as a Catholic is a 365 day a year affair.

Your Excellency| 2.6.12 @ 2:53PM

True,people like Cuomo ,Pelosi, Biden and others have already self excommunicated themselves. It doesn't have to be a formal declaration,but I wish it was.Most Bishops are not very brave people.

Susan| 2.6.12 @ 7:43PM

It is time to stand up for our Christian beliefs. If we truly lived our lives like Jesus wanted us to our country would be much better off. Obama has used the word Christian for his own purpose like putting on a new coat. However, his life since he has been in office is certainly not a Christian one. He approves and supports gay marriage which is an abomination to the Lord just like abortion. I, for one, will not compromise my beliefs for one day I shall stand before the true judge and I know I will be held accountable for what I did while here on earth. That said, I am far from perfect and everyday like all of us I do my best to live a Godly life. Obama and his constant attack on moral issues has made it more and more difficult to stand on our Christian beliefs in this country. The problem with nominal Christians today is they no longer fear the Lord for any of their actions. Obama, is another story, the things he has done and espoused cause me great fear over what else he has in store for people who are Christians. His attack on our faith leads me to believe that this adminstration would have no qualms about putting Christians in prison for their beliefs. God help us all if he wins another four years.

Patrick| 2.7.12 @ 6:08AM

Actually, it has been passing away. As hard as they try, the hippy/boomer/SoVII generation is losing its death-grip on the Catholic Church in America.

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 8:12AM

I happen to support the idea that Abortion should be legal. I also sincerely believe that the Politicians and Activists who agree with me could not do a better job of undermining that position if they tried. Of all the ham handed, tin-eared idiocy.

I am going to see Abortion outlawed in most states in my lifetime, and Pro-Choice arrogance and overreach will be responsible.

Teaghan| 2.6.12 @ 9:01AM

And last weeks' attack on The Susan G Koman foundation by PP was a prime example of the pro-choice arrogance.

Darin| 2.6.12 @ 9:21AM

Isn't it interesting (disturbing) that the unborn child is not given a choice by the pro-choice crowd?

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 1:44PM

it's not a child, it's a parasite!

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 1:45PM

Not only THAT, but if, as you say, IT has a choice, THAT choicewill NEVER be yours or anyone elses and YOU and EVERYONE else needs to let the child decide if it wants to live enough to handle a swim in a saline Douche.

markenoff| 2.6.12 @ 2:23PM

Sort of like welfare recipients?

StephenF| 2.6.12 @ 4:10PM

Let me go down to your level. You are an idiot. Go away.

Ralph| 2.7.12 @ 4:35AM

@fckewe - The amusing part of your stance is that it is self-selecting, and you will not birth an idiot like yourself. You will be bred out of the pool. Buh-bye.

spike59| 2.7.12 @ 6:07AM

@fckewe...perhaps that is how you see your own beginnings; i would opine that in your case, nothing much has changed

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 9:28AM

The issue that convinced me that legal abortion was headed for the ashcan is Parental Notification. I don't care what the rights and wrongs of the issue may be, it's a loser for Pro-Choice. You'd do better running as an Orange candidate in Dublin. Then you get the bumptious Pro-Choice imbeciles who have implied that they would smuggle teens across state lines to get around State level Parental Notification laws; that is simply a recipe for disaster. Sooner of later some such smuggled teen will die from complications, and then hell will go for a walk with the sleeves rolled up.

Eventually, abortion will be legal in Nevada, and maybe one or two other states. And the Pro-Choice people will (for the most part) never understand why.

Darin| 2.6.12 @ 10:16AM

You don't care what the rights and wrongs of the issue may be? So how can you support or oppose any law since all laws boil down to an understanding of right versus wrong?

You're dodging the issue. Even in places where parental notifications laws exist, they can (and are) bypassed. Planned Parenthood does it all the time (and has been caught on tape).

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 1:55PM

Let me re-phrase; The rights and wrongs of the matter are inconsequential to political reality; the issue is a loser, and is not important enough to justify Heroic Losing Actions.

Most Parents worthy of the name and all of them that aren't firmly believe that they know what is best for their own children. You cannot convince them otherwise; it's probably hardwired into our brains.

So opposing Parental Notification is worse than wrong; it is a catastrophic tactical mistake.

Darin| 2.6.12 @ 9:21AM

Schofield,
So you think it should be legal to end a life which has do nothing wrong and not even been afforded a trial? Yeah, you're going to say the unborn baby isn't a person and thus should not be granted the right to live. First, how do you know they are not a person? And second, when do they become a person? If you can't/won't answer these two questions, you are admitting you MIGHT be killing a person.

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 9:34AM

I believe that a fetus is not a human. But I've met supposed adults in their 30's who I wasn't convinced were human. I don't expect to convince anybody of my point of view and I don't expect anybody to convince me of theirs.

I also think that there are a large number of legitimate reasons for killing a person, of which self defense is only one.

I note that no less a Christian authority than Thomas Aquinas held that babies were not human until (as I recall) 21-28 days after birth, depending on sex. And, no, I don't agree with that particular ruling.

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 10:09AM

If it is not a "human fetus" then what is it, a "canine fetus", a bovine fetus", what? Please enlighten us. Or should someone eucate you? When two humans have intercourse and the male of the species releases his sperm into the female of the species the sperm travels up the uteran canal, somehow it finds the egg and penetrates it. Kaboom!!! Now you have a HUMAN FETUS. Now that wasn't so hard was it?

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 1:58PM

Do you consider a sociopathic killer human? Because I don't. Humanity is learned, or at least acquired, over time. Babies do not have it. Some children don't have it. And some very scary adults don't have it.

OK, there are other opinions. But I don't think that I can be persuaded from mine, any more than you can be persuaded to it.

Nick| 2.6.12 @ 2:48PM

C. S. P. Schofield,

Your definition of humanity is very limited and arbitrary. Humanity is our nature, it is our essence. It's what separates us from the beasts, because we can love and are rational beings. This is not learned or acquired, it is innate. What is learned, is the ability to suppress our human nature, so that we act like animals.

This is because we are created in the image and likeness of God, as it is stated in the book of Genesis. But, this is a theological explanation.

Scientifically, human biological life begins at the moment of conception. This is a proven fact. Philosophically, in a republic, all innocent human life has the right to life, based on the Natural Law.

When men decide that they can decide who is, and who is not, human, they reject the Natural Law, and join the beasts, becoming ruled by their passions.

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 5:52PM

Anyone's definition of "Humanity" is limited and arbitrary. I'm as comfortable with mine as you no doubt are with yours. One of us is not going to debate the other into changing. In any case, while I may believe differently from you, the point of my original post was that the Pro-Choice Politicians and Activists have chosen strategies that I believe will doom their position.

I'm saying that my "side" is going to lose. So why the heat?

W| 2.6.12 @ 7:21PM

There can be only one definition of "Humanity" as Nick said, otherwise I say you are not a human and can kill or enslave you, as has been done repeatedly in history.

Nick| 2.6.12 @ 7:33PM

C. S. P. Schofield,

"Anyone's definition of 'Humanity' is limited and arbitrary."

Actually, no, it is not. There are a few thousand years of writings on the subject throughout history. The culmination of which is the concept of the Natural Law, based on rights granted by God and based on the Gospel of Christ.

But, these were arguments about who would, and would not, be considered "persons" and entitled to full citizenship rights.

The question about when, exactly, human life begins was settled by science. True, provable, science is not a matter of belief. And, the science of when biological human life begins, precisely, was settled a long time ago.

So, it is most of the pro-aborts who refuse to accept the science of human biology. I pray that you are right, about your side. Also, I understood your point. I was bringing no "heat". Just correcting your errors. That's all.

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 3:47PM

Then by your own definition, you are not human, thus no need to hear your rantings or opinions. No need to allow you to have rights under the Constitution or give you the right to free speech. You see CSP, you just bit yourself in the ass. Because only a sociopath would kill their children because it was the convenient thing to do.

Darin| 2.6.12 @ 10:20AM

Schofield,
Are you really that clueless about basic biology? When the sperm from a male human and the egg from a femail human unite, the result is a human. Not a dog, not a fish, not a lump of cells. A human genetically distinctive from either parent and from every other human on the planet.

There are legitimate reasons for killing a person (self defense is one). Killing them merely because their existance may be an inconvience is NOT a legitimate reason. That's what the Nazis did to Jews, gypsies, blacks, and gays. And the Nazis said these people were not human.

W| 2.6.12 @ 12:11PM

Aquinas based that on the available medical science and beliefs of the day. He believed that was the date of "ensoulment." I am sure his opinion would differ today based on the medical science today.

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 2:01PM

Why are you sure that he would consider medical science relevant? He was concerned with Spiritual Truth, based on theological reasoning that has only a superficial resemblance to the Scientific Method. Aquinas would take subsequent developments in Theology into account. I'm by no means sure about Science.

W| 2.6.12 @ 3:57PM

If you read Aquinas you will see he is very logical and practical. He based his reasoning on what he could see, think and anylaze in a logical manner. He based his "28 day" on when he believed there was a person getting a soul which means there was a person that you now call a fetus but not a human.
Do you think he picked 28 days on a whim?
He was concerned with Truth, period.
If you would read him or read him with an open mind you would not ask these questions and argue that a fetus is not a human or a person.

Blackwatch| 2.6.12 @ 2:03PM

everyone reading this blog is a human fetus. you are always a human fetus same as you are always a homo sapien. When you are in your mother's womb you are an immature homo sapien.

that is the truth and it speaks to your lie that a fetus is not a human.

Your Excellency| 2.6.12 @ 2:45PM

Aquinas was speculating but concluded he did not know. Please don't be disingenuous.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 1:46PM

GOD does it all the time. it's his WILL!

Susan Benton| 2.6.12 @ 10:07AM

If you put a seed in dirt, or water, and it begins to sprout - that is life. It is not the plant, but it is life. The same goes with the transformation of a fetus into a baby over 9 months. It is still life. I disagree totally with your perspective, but hope you are right and that it is outlawed. Adult pleasures (like sex) should come with adult responsibilities (like raising a child). Anyone who cannot control their sexual impulses would do well to at least be extremely cautious, or accept the consequences.

Henry Calvin| 2.6.12 @ 11:15AM

Oh please, you need to retake simply junior high school biology! As to the choice issue, simply have some self restraint and choose NOT to have sex with someone you would not have a child with. Very simply, but wait, that means you have to deny yourself!! No can do! In the mean time crack open that dusty biology book!

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 1:58PM

or learn to enjoy ORAL CONTRACEPTION.

Crypto-Conservative in NH| 2.6.12 @ 8:19AM

It's long past time that both the Catholic hierarchy and 'Catholic' leftists confronted and rejected their hypocrisy around abortion and the Democrat Party platform. Never fear, the leftists, CINOs, and even the reverend Cardinals and Archbishops will all fall over themselves 'making nice' to Obama when he provides them a 'clarification' and 'exception' to his current pro-abortion mandates (just like he built into Obamacare) and infanticide mandates.

Then, the 'usual suspects' including Archbishop Dolan and his conference of bishops and Cardinal Wuerl will line up behind Obama and the Democrats to support their 'social justice' agenda for the election. Fr. Jenkins at Notre Dame or the administration at Jesuit college will issue a special invitation to bestow an honorary degree and award to Obama as a 'Protector of the Faith'.

Once Obama is re-elected they will be 'shocked and disappointed' when they are hit with an even more draconian, pro-abortion mandate to the surprise of CINOs, 'catholic' Dims like Biden, Pelosi, et al, Jesuits, Franciscans (Boston's Archbishop), the Catholic episcopate and the 'liberal, leftist Catholics' everywhere. AND, it will be too late. - AHH, the wonderful fruits of 'social justice'!

David W| 2.6.12 @ 9:52AM

Obama already knows that he has nothing to worry about. The CINOs like Pelosi will still support him. The leftist Protestants will also fall in line. And of course the athiests won't care anyway so they'll line up for Obama. He won't have to worry at all. Besides, by November this will be forgotten (as will be the truly innocent and defenseless who were killed by the Democratic party).

Henry Calvin| 2.6.12 @ 11:25AM

Do a little research before you tar Cardinal-designate Dolan with the liberal stick. This great man has been one of the few voices warning about the lying abortive person in the white house today. Dolan was assured (and lies to) that this mandate was not in the works! His Eminence is a wonderful voice for and to the faithfull and I cannot stand and let someone that knows not what he talks about besmirch a good name.

Crypto-Conservative in NH| 2.6.12 @ 2:25PM

Henry, Henry, Henry,
Calm down,I suggest you familiarize yourself with Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a moral and spiritual inspiration. After that, read on and learn something yourself.

One should speak neither calumny nor slander. Your passionate defense is quite touching. Less so is your assertion that I am ignorant of Archbishop Dolan's past actions which have indeed been laudable. He is the rare exception in the American hierarchy. However, his most recent action undercut any strong faith in either judgement or his understanding of what he faces when he attempts to 'negotiate' with Obama.

You cannot deny that Dolan chose to align himself with Obama after meeting with him and taking Obama at 'face' value despite all evidence that the man is a bald, faced liar. Dolan willingly let himself be used as a 'tool' by Obama by providing him cover after he met with Obama 2 weeks ago to discuss whether or not Obama's pro-abortion-mandates would apply to Catholics.

Dolan was quite willing to (figuratively) jump into bed with Obama when he proclaimed his 'agreement' that Catholic institutions would have a suspension of compliance. Obama has a well-documented history of aggressively, publicly and at any cost acting in support of abortion at all costs. NOTHING in his recent history displays ANY inclination to changing his position.

Archbishop Dolan KNEW or should have known that Obama voted to prevent treatment of babies that survive abortion.

Dolan either KNEW or should have known that Obama LIED when he and his allies INSISTED no Obamacare dollars would go for abortions. And, that 'exclusion and commitment' was as worthless as the paper it was written on.

Dolan KNEW or should have known that in Obama's mind 'pregnancy' is a punishment and to terminated at will.

Dolan has shown some courage in the past. He is to be a Cardinal. A Prince of the Church. A potential future Pope. If he is so naive in his dealings with such a blatant liar as Obama, I fear for how much, and in what ways, he will allow himself to be manipulated by less subtle and obvious enemies of the Church.

Your Excellency| 2.6.12 @ 2:59PM

la crypto: Cardinal-elect Dolan is a much smarter man than Obama . He knows who Obama is and will in time drop a ka-boom on him.Wait my friends you shall enjoy.

darcy| 2.6.12 @ 8:08PM

Ka-boom? It should have been dropped two years ago, before Obamaabortificantcare became the law of the land.

Henry Calvin| 2.6.12 @ 11:43PM

Crypt, As a American of German Descent and raised in the Lutheran Church, I am very familiar with Rev. Bonhoeffer, no need to be condesending, my boy. However, let's be clear, you speak of Cardinal-designate Dolan as a fool, a liberal fool when in fact, the great man who indeed may be a future Pope, had to take a public view of hope, no matter his private personal views. When his public hopes where dashed he swiftly reponded!! As far as your kindly suggestion of a history lesson for me, may I be so bold as to suggest your study and reflection of the lives of St. Maximilian Kolbe or St. Edith Stein, both who died along with Bonhoeffer in the death camps! Perhaps it will be best for all of us to drop the gauntlet of oneupmanship and unite to defeat this insideous intrusion on our freedom.

Nick| 2.7.12 @ 10:32AM

Mr. Calvin,

Amen, Brother!

Archbishop Dolan will make a great Cardinal. We should all keep him in our prayers. O'Bama may well be the instrument that gives the rest of the U.S. bishops some backbone.

God always takes evil and uses it to produce a greater good. We might be witnessing this, right now.
God Bless!

Crypto-Conservative in NH| 2.9.12 @ 8:39AM

Henry, Henry, Henry et al;

Googling the 'Directory of Saints' doesn't counter facts. Nor, does listing fact constitute 'on-upping'.

Ad hominem attacks do not advance a dialogue. Think about it this way.....Dolan et al are playing 'Charlie Brown' to Obama's 'Lucy' with abortion as the 'football'. The outcome will be the same. There will be a compromise - that will stand (sort of) until after the election - then the 'football' will be pulled away again.

And, I strongly suspect that will happen no matter WHO wins in November. This is NOT to say, we shouldn't fight the pro-abortionists - just don't depend upon naive leaders all too willing to trust the ''intentions and good will' of their adversaries. You cannot compromise with someone determined to have their way by any and all means possible.

LMajito| 2.6.12 @ 8:25AM

leave it to folks living in the us to think they can pick and select what is 'reasonable' for them...catholicism is not a buffet...you either believe the church doctrine or not. like any evangelical...either you follow the master teachings or you do not...

about contraception, the only item i can find in the scriptures that talks about preventing pregnacy is in the OT when Onan decided to spill his seed on earth rather than inside the woman.

however, after all those decades and millions of pre-born humans willingly sacrificed at the altar of convenience (they call this choice, right?) to somehow getting all hot and bothered over pills is kind of crazy.

the nation as a whole is not a christian nation...and probably it never was...for example who remembers that one of the items outlawed with the Volstead Act (prohibition) was that sex between an adult and 10 year old was ok??

then we can speak of the evils of apartheid and downright denigration of black, hispanics or indians?

many look at the 50s as some great era...well if you were not white, it probably was not...

so if tens of millions of catholics push the lever for BHO, don't complain now...he has done what he said he would do...he has not deviated from his plans...

in that respect, you got to give the man his due...he's doing what he said he would do...change america completely...

maybe next time folks will not mix charisma with character...

but apparently, they're about to do the same with good old Mitt...

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 9:36AM

A Classic from the Letters column of the National Review, sometime in the 1970's;

(Long reader rant about "I'm an American Catholic and I don't agree with the Pope on blather, blather, blather")

NR: Congratulations; you are a Protestant.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:01PM

Touche` If you ONLY have sex to procreate, you are a Catholic. if you enjoy it the least little bit, your are a protestant. if you enjoy it a lot, but only do it sometimes, you are a conservative and if your enjoy it enough that you do it a lot, a conservative will mislabel you a commie, pinko, gay flag flying, unAmerican nonpatriot leftwing, narxist, socialist liberal hack.

But you'll just laugh and giggle and wiggle and smile!

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:01PM

Why?... ~smirks~ because you ARE giving a F***. Bet they're liking it too!

C. S. P. Schofield| 2.6.12 @ 2:04PM

I'm not Catholic, but I think that you are allowed to enjoy it if you are prepared to accept any children that might eventuate. But I'm basing this on the writings of Father Andrew Greeley, and I gather he's something of a maverick.

SeymourGlass| 2.6.12 @ 2:08PM

And if you enjoy it by yourself... since that's you're only choice... you're "fckewe".

spike59| 2.7.12 @ 6:12AM

and if you get off on speculating about other people's sex lives instead of having a life of your own, you're fckewe...

Mimi| 2.6.12 @ 11:20AM

We need to NOT look on the OUTSIDE this time...Obama..the attractive, smiling Obama that would heal our racial problems over-night...he was so SPECIAL..WOW ....How many fell for it ?
I don't care about LOOKS, AGE or personality...I need someone to FIX things that are now broken....Give me a teary man, who listens to the SONG GOD BLESS AMERICA and show the LOVE of country. Thats why I'm for NEWT...The real deal!!!

Ray| 2.6.12 @ 8:27AM

Obama will not relent and the Catholic Church will not comply...so they will end their insurance programs, sending everyone to the government pools. Exactly what Obama wants, no more private insurance.

Joseph| 2.6.12 @ 8:46AM

Good point Ray. It is all about expanding government control.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:03PM

We should revoke ALL churches tax exempt status's. Period, end of religious pandering. AND superPAC donations should NOT be tax deductible. Make THAT regulation effective 2010.

SGT Baker (native Coloradoan)| 2.6.12 @ 11:21PM

PLease do!!! Because then the Churches can act politically again, please do us that favor!!! Right now pastors are afraid to speak against a party or caniadate because they will lose that tax exempt status. So please do push that for those of us that want to see the Church take an active part in society again.

Mimi| 2.6.12 @ 8:40AM

It is going to be fascinating watching Obama wiggle out of this dilema. Interesting, I don't think they had a CLUE what a ruckus would happen if this EDICT was given.

Since the very beginning this President never had PROVIDENCE on his side....everything he touched became mush ....anything he proposed was a bungled mess...face it his way was never the American WAY...He did not know or respect America....Where did he come from?

He has provoked, agitated and tested our tolerence for how much we will bear...He has NOW crossed the LINE.

Never in History has the Bishops of the whole Catholic Church in America stood up to a President and said : " CAN NOT & WILL NOT"
comply....From the beginning when returning veterans, and old pro-life ladies , were threatened to be put on a domestic "Terrorist List"....until now some of us began with a quiet uneasiness that is now up to a ROAR. The END of the OBAMA AGE is about to come to and end!

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:04PM

Even if 80-90% of the CHURCH members DO NOT AND WILL NOT comply with church doctrines? ha ha ha.

Mimi| 2.6.12 @ 3:40PM

Try to minimize this event at your own risk....This is something at work here BIGGER than any of us' This isn't the first doo-doo he stepped on it's just the BIGGEST ! Much more to come...stay tuned fool!

Timothy L. Pennell| 2.6.12 @ 8:53AM

You left out: 'They all voted for Obama' in your - "What do all of these people have in Common".

I love History. Don't you? My favorite part of History, is how it never seems to change. The names and the faces do. But, the End Results are always the same.

I love this Column. It has to be the best one I've read on this site, in a long time.

CAESER. Yes. I believe that he Officially Crossed the Rubicon, when he gave his INFAMOUS Speech, in Kansas. On that day he acknowledge that he IS an Ideologue, despite his previous denials. On that day Caesar proclaimed that: " Not only does Free Market Capitalism not work in America, these days. It's NEVER WORKED". (Out of the mouths of babes)

Like Caesar, Obama sees HIS Roman Senate (Congress) as nothing more than another Enemy to be Defeated. He NEVER seeks their Counsel, or that of his Cabinet. Such things are for MEN, and surely, he is more than a Man.

HAIL CAESAR!

Like Napoleon, he has Proclaimed himself to be Above the 1st Amendment. Above the Constitution. And, for the 2nd time, ABOVE THE CHURCH itself. (Because everyone knows, that's what Christians do, when they're not telling people that "The Muslim Call to Prayer, is the most beautiful sound in the world", and then RECITING IT, word for word.)

Indeed. He is more than man. He is THE ONE. And, as the ONE, and like Napoleon, if the Pope refuses to recognize his Deification? He will place the Emperor's Crown on his head, himself.
"LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!"

Like Hitler, he has amassed a small Army of Loyal Followers, more than willing to break a few Windows, and break a few Heads. "We need a Civilian Force, just as big as the Military, and just as well financed." ($800 Billion in "Stimulus" Money) In Hitler's time, they were known as "BROWN SHIRTS". Now we call them UNIONS. They sit and wait for the phones to ring, with their orders. Once they have received them, they load up their Buses, and head out to the Homes of their Fuhrer's Enemies, and do what Brown Shirts are wont to do. They break Glass, and TERRORIZE Women and Children. You saw them in Wisconsin, and Ohio. They're back in Wisconsin, as we speak. They are in Oakland, and D.C. making their Threats, and Shouting their Demands.
HEIL HITLER!

But, like I said at the beginning: History never seems to CHANGE. It's always the same Play, just with different Players.

I take heart that, in the end, the Character of CAESAR, always succumbs to the same fate. The People become Free again. Life goes on.
"SIC SEMPER TYRANUS!"

It's the part where: "Everybody has to Die first" that's the problem.

oldfart| 2.6.12 @ 9:09AM

I wonder what kind of fire storm would be released if a President (certainly not this one) issued an Executive Order that required followers of Islam to eat pork.
Listen up to the actions of this President - not his words.
ALL people of faith are at risk because people of faith (regardless of how they express their belief) are at odds that the only liberal accepted faith, Secular Humanism - faith in Big Brother as demonstrated by Stalin, Hitler, Pol-Pot, Alinsky, Marx, Lenin and others.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:06PM

This I agree with TOO! Saul Alinsky saved jews from Nazis. What is your problem with that?

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:07PM

Oh and don't forget to add most of the Popes to that list and every member of Congress who EVER had an ancestor with a KKK card.

Brian Mc| 2.6.12 @ 9:14AM

"Et tu Brute?"

jaytrain| 2.6.12 @ 9:33AM

The Church has had this coming for a long time and like all justice delayed , it arrived with both feet . Thirty years ago , when the Kennedys and Pelosis of the world were permitted to be Catholic on Sunday and heretics the rest of the week , the Church did nothing . Not wanting to lose their place at the country clubs and swell restaurants , they kept their mouths shut while catholic pols espoused and enabled heresy and grave sin . Had these pols been denied communion ,forthrightly and publicly , then a meaningful line in the sand might have been drawn ,but ,now, it is far far too late . Note that only 70% of the parishs have even read this token letter . Are those curates now suspended from their priestly duties ? I hazard to guess , not . "As you sow , so shall you reap " The Church sowed moral equivication and now reaps the whirlwind . Could not have happened to a more deserving set of folks .

Le Cracquere| 2.6.12 @ 10:57AM

Whatever you think of American Catholics, Jaytrain, the implications of the HHS decision don't stop at the Tiber. The bureaucratic weapons they're wielding could be turned against Protestants and Jews tomorrow without so much as an adapter kit, so your Schadenfreude is a bit misguided.

spike59| 2.8.12 @ 6:51AM

Amen; and there's nothing stopping ObaMao, should he be re-elected, from changing the mandate again via executive order, to require ALL churches to provide whatever 'services', to include abortion, that HHS deems 'appropriate health coverage' for their employees

David T| 2.6.12 @ 9:43AM

The Catholic Church was overly influenced by the 60's generation, but that influence is waning. More bishops and priests are standing up for the faith today and it's only a matter of time before the effects are felt in the pews and in the ballot boxes across this great nation.

Blackwatch| 2.6.12 @ 2:13PM

Yes. Out Pastor blesses the troops overseas at every Mass. Our bishops letter was read out loud at Mass and was well received. We see only a few Obama-Biden bumper stickers in the Parish parking lot. Times are changing for the Kenyan-American President.

Bai Macfarlane | 2.6.12 @ 10:00AM

The US Bishops are readying to refuse to comply with ObamaCare laws that mandate paying for services that are a violation their religion. As spiritual fathers, they find it unconstitutional to be forced to pay for something that is immoral, according to their own religion.
Why don’t the same Bishops come to the defense of natural fathers who have been forced to pay for something that is immoral?
In no-fault divorce, millions of innocent reliable fathers and husbands have been forced to pay for being immorally removed from their own children’s lives. Fathers are forced to pay state agents, such as guardian ad litems, court psychologists, and court fees. Their wages are garnished to support their children and wife in a separate household in which these fathers are--for no moral reason--forbidden to live.
I hope the Bishops’ ultimatum is not too little too late. For nearly forty years, the government has been forcing reliable Catholic spouses to pay for something that is immoral. So, why wouldn’t the government expect the same coercion to go unchallenged by the institutional Church?

Bai Macfarlane
Director of Mary’s Advocates
Inviting Catholics to invoke the intervention of the Church against no-fault divorce

Vern Crisler| 2.6.12 @ 10:39AM

Oddly enough, Catholics were originally forced to pay taxes for Protestant instruction of children, i.e., public schools.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:11PM

I that isn't calling the hypo a crite! I think child support should be 50% of each parents earnings (including the value of dinners and gifts that the mom gets from potential new fathers) and set aside in a trust account for the children. This covers their expenses and eliminates court time and expenses. I also agree that custody should ALWAYS be shared, 50/50. you HAVE to take them on YOUR scheduled week, and make sure they get to all the KIDS choice of functions and activities.

Jim| 2.6.12 @ 2:17PM

Here here Bai, for far too long we GREAT fathres have been tossed on the ashheap with nothing left but govt's hand in our pocket. And we get nothing for it but yelled at and villified.

Trinacria| 2.6.12 @ 8:04PM

So to summarize: you're going to place your faith in the same Bishops whose theologically unfounded love affair with dubious concepts like "social justice", wealth redistribution, and "undocumented workers' rights" has advanced the same morally bankrupt ideology against which you now protest.

Good luck with that...

The Bishop| 2.6.12 @ 10:00AM

As someone once said, "If you lay down with the dog, you're going to get fleas.". Liberal Catholics embraced this amateur to show accepting they were of a man of color. They forgot that part about the content of character trumping skin color. LearninG too late.

Henry Calvin| 2.6.12 @ 11:28AM

If you voted for Oboma the first time to prove you are tolerant, vote for anyone else in November to prove you are not a fool!!

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:14PM

I voted for Obama last time AND this time because no matter how loud you scream you are a person of character, you screaming betrays you. LOL Not to mention the distortion of facts you live and breathe by.

I BET you that 50% of RED party voters, if they found their child pregnant with a biracial fetus, would abort it. 50%!

One Percent| 2.6.12 @ 4:44PM

But surely you must know, Mr. Fckewe, that those of us whom you malign would have the good form not to raise a child who would find themselves in such an unfortunate circumstance. So you see, sport, your argument fails the first test of logic, as it proceeds from a premise that is demonstrably absurd.

By the way, I hasten in the spirit of candor to inform you that your screen name, while undoubtedly uproariously funny to a snickering pre-adolescent, is neither clever nor the least bit entertaining to anyone with a steady job and a passing knowledge of basic grammar. But you keep at it, old sport; you never know - one day being vacuous and utterly lacking in intellectual depth might become all the rage...

Henry Calvin| 2.7.12 @ 12:30AM

Okay, I'll take that wager!
Now, prove me wrong!

spike59| 2.7.12 @ 6:15AM

you voted for ObaMao last time and will this time because you're a reliable little Progressive sheep, and your own idiotic knee-jerk racialist attitudes draw you to the most racially divisive Presidency in US history

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:12PM

If you lay down with My dog, you would most likely GIVE IT fleas.

One Percent| 2.6.12 @ 4:44PM

Keep you're wife out of it, F.

One Percent| 2.6.12 @ 4:45PM

That's "your" wife...

spike59| 2.7.12 @ 6:16AM

guessing by his moniker, his 'wife' doesn't 'bow-wow'; it 'bahhhhhhhhs'

Ward Bond| 2.6.12 @ 9:24PM

MR. fekewe, you are an ignorramus. I'm proud to call you democrat.

WRTolkas| 2.6.12 @ 10:17AM

Not just Catholics are in defensive mode. I distributed a copy of Bishop of Marquette, Michigan, Alexander Sample's letter to his flock in my congregation - Seventh Day Adventists. When someone can stir up a mess that unites Catholics and Seventh Day Adventists, you have created a BIG mess.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:14PM

The very fact that you think of yourselves as enemies TELLS GOD you are not a true Christian and DO NOT understand the New Testament at all!

Henry Calvin| 2.6.12 @ 11:50PM

fckewe, Can you point out where WRTolkas calls us Catholics ememies, I can't seem to find it. By the way,I would like to point out that your tag name needs an update, this is not a junior high school forum. A little imagination would give your retorts a bit more legitamacy.

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 10:30AM

As a baptist I'm a bit ashamed that I heard nothing on the issue in church this Sunday. I'm wonder in the Episcopals, Mormons, Methodists, Church of Christ or other Christian denominations are saying anything. If they are'nt, they should be. It's time for all Christian churches to stand up and quit acting as the sheep and be the Shepheard. Thats what we sitting inthe pews want you as ministers, rabbi's, and priest to do, be the shepheard, lead and protect your flock. The time for Christians to turn the other cheek is over. By the way, turning the cheek in the days of Christ was a way of making your master recognize you were his equal. It forced him to strike you with his right hand rather than his left. Remember, back then you didn't touch anything dirty with your right hand and slaves and gentiles were considered dirty. Back to the point. We Christians make up over 80% of the population. We have been accepting to all, this goes with our tteaching of treat others how you wish to be treated. We should also expect the same of our political leaders. If Obama wants to have hospitals and clinics provide birth control or abortions, then it should only be REQUIRED of state owned and operated hospitals and clinics. If he wants employers to provide these services it should only be REQUIRED on the government. Private companies should have a choice. Thats what makes it a free market place. If you don't like the benefits your employer gives you, you are free to quit and seek employment elswhere. The same goes for any employee of a church. You're free to leave and go to work elsewhere.
Its time for American pastors, ministers, rabbi's, priest and other church leaders to do just that, lead! Be a shepheard and protect your flock. We the sheep, expect you to be a shepheard. Now, all of us sheep need to make sure our shepheards get this message and all of us need to stand together.
God Bless America

Nick| 2.6.12 @ 11:35AM

Excellent points, Dmac.

People need to realize that this does not just effect Catholics. Who is going to stop O'Bama from mandating that Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, et al, provide health insurance to same-gender pervert couples?

How long before the stinking liberals use this same argument to try to stop pastors from preaching against homosexuality, as the Gospel demands, which has already happened in Canada?

This is the camel's-nose-under-the-tent scenario that the leftist state will use to dictate to Christians what is, and is not, allowable in their churches. As it is in China.

Wake -up Christians!

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:20PM

NO! you do not! ALL the groups other than YOURS that claim on the census to be Christians are in FACT, by your GROUP'S claim, NOT TRUE CHRISTIANS. If you were being honest with your numbers, then Romney being a MORMON would NEVER be a question, let alone a factor. I also notice how you didn't include Catholics of either flavor in you list of Christians, which proves My point.

If you were honest about your Christianity, and if Christianity were honest about it's dogma, there would only be ONE faith of Christians, not 700 different cults (demonimational abominations).

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 3:56PM

What the hell are you talking about fckwe? By the way, there is only one "faith" with Christians, our faith is in God above and his son Jesus Christ who died for all our sins, including yours. I think what you are referring to are the different sect of Christianity. You know, like the Muslims have Sunni and Shia, and don't forget there are 12 tribes of Judea.
Which sect are you from fckwe, "angry at my parents", "guilty feelings becuase I live in the best country on Earth", or "antagonist becuase it gives me joy to upset people for no apparent reason"?

Tony in Central PA| 2.6.12 @ 9:16PM

Dmac, I'm a Catholic ( my wife's a Baptist ) and I definitely agree with you. Its time for people who identify themselves as Christians to close ranks in America. The subject of this article has finally gotten the attention of a good number of people, but the reality is that there has been an ongoing effort for some time now to constrict religious liberty in our nation. Recently, this effort has gained the support of a President and his Administration.
I only recently became a Catholic ( 2009 ). It was a long and difficult decision at times. The thing I soon discovered was how poorly educated ( Catholics use the word catechized ) most Catholics are about the faith they claim. Its not just ancient history, either, its what the Church is teaching here and now. There are people in religious education positions in my parish who sport " Obama " bumper stickers on their cars. So its easy to understand how Obama was able to employ his usual " divide and conquer " strategy to winning the Catholic vote. High profile appointments of openly defiant Catholics. A rock star - like reception at once Catholic Notre Dame in 2009. A few voices in the wilderness were against what was going on like current Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia, but the silence was infuriating.
I am hoping time of inaction has come to an end. What is going on with HHS is just the beginning from this Administration and the Left.

Nick| 2.7.12 @ 10:20AM

Tony,

Welcome home!

The most powerful weapon we have at our disposal is prayer. Keep praying for bishops, priests, deacons, and religious with backbones.

Take it from me, things have gotten much better in the past 15-20 years. Pope John Paul the Great's long reign stopped the flood of secular, modernist influence in the Church. Pope Benedict XVI is continuing to push the flood waters back into the abyss, where they belong.

God is in complete control of His Church. His time is not always our time, so we must be patient. As the late Holy Father always said, "Be not afraid!"
God Bless!

Tony in Central PA| 2.7.12 @ 9:31PM

Thanks, Nick.
It would be a bit unexpected if this is the issue finally galvanizes people who claim to be Catholic and Christian about where the hardline secularists want to take this country.

David Wilhelms| 2.6.12 @ 10:37AM

The Employment Situation: January BLS Report Spin this one for me.

243,000 jobs were added in January according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest increase since April 2011, exceeding the forecasted median gain of 135,000. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%, marking the lowest rate since February 2009. This drop was due to the growth in the overall labor force by 250,000 and a drop in the number of unemployed by 381,000. In addition, revisions to prior reports added 60,000 jobs to payrolls in November and December.
The industries with the biggest positive changes were Professional and Business Services (+70,000), Manufacturing (+50,000), Leisure and Hospitality (+44,000).

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 10:42AM

Yet 37% of Americans who can work don't, many because they have given up on finding a job, others becuase they make more on welfare and other government benefits.
But what does this have to do with the topic here of the governmenrt forcing religions to accept what they deem is morally wrong?

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:22PM

Are you putting all those pregnant women in your statistic? What about their 'children', you know, the one's newt Gingrich wants to give JOBS as janitors too?

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 4:55PM

I really don't know what I could say that would help you grow up sheeplover. Thing is, I think you're about 12 or 13. You think you're a big boy now because you are in the room with some adults. Well, you're not. you most likely never will be. Ya see, idiots like you tend to open your mouths in front of the wrong people and someone comes along and shuts it for you. Lets hopew you have a mom or dad at home that loves you and will catch you being your demented self and gets you the help you need.
In the meantime, i'm sure all the Christians here today would be more than happy to pray for you. Because even if your mom and dad can't change or help you, God can. Okay everybody, lets pray for this child today.

markenoff| 2.6.12 @ 2:32PM

And 1,200,000 people dropped out of the workforce bringing the workforce participation rate to the lowest it's been in decades. The percentage looks better because the denominator has shrunk.

markenoff| 2.6.12 @ 4:18PM

A month ago, we joked when we said that for Obama to get the unemployment rate to negative by election time, all he has to do is to crush the labor force participation rate to about 55%. Looks like the good folks at the BLS heard us: it appears that the people not in the labor force exploded by an unprecedented record 1.2 million. No, that's not a typo: 1.2 million people dropped out of the labor force in one month! So as the labor force increased from 153.9 million to 154.4 million, the non institutional population increased by 242.3 million meaning, those not in the labor force surged from 86.7 million to 87.9 million. Which means that the civilian labor force tumbled to a fresh 30 year low of 63.7% as the BLS is seriously planning on eliminating nearly half of the available labor pool from the unemployment calculation.

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/g.....al_polling

Ed| 2.6.12 @ 11:00AM

The bishops are left wingers. They won't fight. That's only for disarmament and the expansion of the welfare state. They were fine with Obamacare and fine with backing a presidential candidate who was fine with killing children after they were born. Why count on those same bishops? If Obama modifies they position, they'll jump right back on board and won't need any encouragement to kiss his ring, just promises of social justice. It's like expecting Juan Williams not to pull out the race card just because some conservatives actually supported him.

Joseph A Vanchieri Jr.| 2.6.12 @ 1:44PM

The bishops of the Catholic church have no political insight. They stand by the Holy Bible and everything it stands for. To say that they haven't spoke out against every thing Obama has done is a lie. The media of course never report it being the lberal garbage dealers that they are.

Ed| 2.6.12 @ 2:32PM

Oh, so the Bishops did oppose Obamacare? I think we both know that is a false statement. And some punishment was meted out for the joyously pro-abortion Obama getting that honorary degree at a Catholic institution. I think, again, we both know that no such thing occurred. Further, I think we both know that, if granted a waiver, the Church hierarchy would jump right back on the social justice bandwagon. It's like the conservatives who kissed up to Christopher Hitchens because he was "witty".

cowgirl| 2.6.12 @ 11:41AM

Separation of Church & State???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Bruce| 2.6.12 @ 11:58AM

The book of Revelation speaks of the seven churches (ages of the church) and whet to expect. IMO we are currently in the age of the church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) This church was accused of being "lukewarm". They just went along to get along. Many churches have done this for a long time. Now, when they see the results of not taking a stand, they wonder what happened.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:23PM

I looked on the map, Laodicea is WHERE exactly????

Trinacria| 2.6.12 @ 4:50PM

And the book of Genesis says a snake climbed up a tree, picked an apple, and spoke to a naked woman...

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 5:33PM

It also says God took the serpents legs and he had to crawl on the ground. Here's a history lesson for you. Do you know what the two youngest species of animal on the Earth are? Humans and snakes. Here's a little biology for you. Are you aware some snakes have small scales on their sides that were once legs similar to those on some fish that have the ability to walk or crawl.
Some things we do not understand. That doesn't mean they are not true. It only means we do not understand.

Trinacria| 2.6.12 @ 7:38PM

A history lesson for me? And a biology lesson to boot? Really, Dmac; surely you aren't citing the bible as a credible reference for evolutionary biology, are you?

OK; let's stipulate to your absurd assumption that the snake to which the account in Genesis refers was actually the evolutionary predecessor to the current species which had arms and legs that permitted it to scale a tree and the manual dexterity to pick an apple from said tree. Is it your hypothesis that this animal also had a highly evolved brain (which permitted the complex reasoning skills necessary to formulate a logical proposition) and vocal chords (which permitted the proposition to be articulated), both of which subsequently underwent the only known example in history of a DE-EVOLUTIONARY process in which a higher order trait that facilitates survival of a species gives way to a regressive form? Really?

OK. Let's pick another example. The bible tells us that we are the offspring of Adam and Eve - the first man and woman. The bible also tells us that incest is a mortal sin - a sin against God and all humanity. If the first generation of humans were the children of Adam and Eve, where did the second generation come from? So, if the bible is an accurate historical account, then we must infer from Genesis that God chose to populate the earth through a mechanism that he forbids - namely, incest. But how could God, who is by definition "without sin", choose to populate the earth through a sinful act?

C'mon, Dmac. God gave you a brain for a reason; I suggest you use it (otherwise it might share the same de-evolutionary fate as the snake's!).

Nick| 2.7.12 @ 10:05AM

Trinacria and Dmac,

Actually, Genesis doesn't use the word "snake." Or, the word "apple," either. Moses used the words serpent and fruit.

Although, the meaning of the creation account is not to give a scientific explanation of how the universe was formed. This misses the truths the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us. We should not try to read things that are not there.

As far as how the world was populated, Trinacria, the law against incest wasn't given by God until the time of Moses. So, it is entirely possible that the direct offspring of Adam and Eve populated the earth. As well as Noah's offspring, after the Flood.

Adam and Eve were real, historic persons. Just because we don't know how the people of Nod came about, or, how Noah's children repopulated the world, doesn't mean that these stories are made-up fairy-tales.

Hope that was helpful.
God Bless!

Trinacria| 2.7.12 @ 1:57PM

"As far as how the world was populated, Trinacria, the law against incest wasn't given by God until the time of Moses. So, it is entirely possible that the direct offspring of Adam and Eve populated the earth."

With all due respect, Nick, you've failed to account for a very basic theological concept. Truth is eternal; the laws of God, which are based on the concept of universal truth, are therefore likewise eternal. A mortal sin is defined on the basis of it's relationship to truth, which (as noted above) does not change. It is therefore a logical fallacy to assert that the sinfulness of an act is subject to the dimension of time. Otherwise, truth is not eternal and the very concept of mortal sin loses all relevance.

By the way, with respect to your clarification of the terms used in Genesis (serpent vs. snake; fruit vs. apple), consultation of a dictionary yields the following definition for "serpent": A reptile of the order Serpentes; a snake. Therefore, your "clarification" has little bearing on the fundamental argument; namely, it is absurd to assert that an animal without the requisite appendages, intellect, and ability to communicate could scale a tree, pick a piece of fruit, present the fruit to Eve, and articulate a proposition. Substitue serpent for snake and fruit for apple and the absurdity of the assertion is not thereby diminished.

Finally, with respect to your confident assertion that Adam and Eve were indeed historical persons, I refer you to your own sentence in the preceeding paragraph wherein you state that the Genesis account is not meant to be scientifically accurate. If the events recounted in Genesis are not scientifically plausible, they cannot - by definition - be historically accurate, as history is nothing more than a record of what actually took place. Therefore, if the events could not have taken place the way they are described, the description is not historically accurate. Strike 3.

Next?

Nick| 2.7.12 @ 4:10PM

Trinacria,

I meant no disrespect, I promise. I will answer your strikes in order.

1) I did not mean to imply that this was the only answer. It is one of several that I have come across. Yes, God's Truth is eternal. But, God did command death for those who commit murder, in Exodus 21. Yet, He protected the first murderer, Cain, back in Genesis.

God's commands are for our protection. So, if there was no danger, it might have been permissible for the offspring of Adam and Eve to have children. We know that first-cousins often married back then. Also, what makes a mortal sin mortal is because it is committed with the full consent of the will. It is a deliberate disobeying of God. If God did not forbid the offspring of Adam and Eve to marry, there was no mortal sin committed. You may be right, though, I will have to do some more research.

Of course, this all misses the main point, which is that God created our first parents, Adam and Eve. I'll come back to this.

2) You would be correct, if Genesis was written in English. However, it wasn't, as I'm sure you well know. The Hebrew for "serpent" is nahash, which can mean snake. But, it can also mean a great beast, like a dragon. Again, this misses the main point of Genesis 3, which is that Satan tempted Eve, and God put enmity between the serpent's seed and the woman's Seed (the Proto-Evangelium.) I first heard this idea of the serpent as a dragon-like beast from Dr. Scott Hahn, and it's fascinating. You can read more about it, here:

http://www.catholic-pages.com/bvm/hahn.asp

3) This is not my "confident assertion," it is a teaching of the Church. The fact that the book of Genesis is not a science book, does not contradict the fact that Adam and Eve existed. Pope Pius XII explained this better than I ever could:

"For the faithful cannot embrace that opinion which maintains either that after Adam there existed on this earth true men who did not take their origin through natural generation from him as from the first parents of all, or that Adam represents a certain number of first parents. Now, it is in no way apparent how such an opinion can be reconciled that which the sources of revealed truth and the documents of the teaching authority of the Church proposed with regard to original sin which proceeds from a sin actually committed by an individual Adam in which through generation is passed onto all and is in everyone as his own." Humani Generis 37

You can read more about this in this article, from Catholic Answers:

http://www.catholic.com/tracts.....-evolution

If you deny that Adam and Eve were the first human beings, you deny the doctrine of Original Sin, which is inherited by all of their children. Save Our Lady and Christ, of course.

Again, I hope that I didn't offend you. My only motive was to inform.
God Bless!

Trinacria| 2.8.12 @ 2:30PM

Nick,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I shall not dwell at length on the issue of moral truth; however, in the spirit of candor, I must say that the notion that moral truth is mutable - at least to the extent that what is true (i.e. morally just) at one place and time can be untrue at another - strikes me as both untenable and fraught with hazard. By way of example, if this were true, one could interpret the Ten Commandments as temporal laws that are subject to future revision.

With respect to your citation of God's protection of the first murderer, Cain, as an example of God's apparent "contradiction" of his own law, I would suggest that there is no such contradiction. God forgave Cain. Forgiveness of a sinful act does not imply that an act was not sinful a priori. Indeed, it implies the contrary, for if the act weren't sinful, there would be nothing to forgive.

Turning to the notion of the serpent as a "dragon-beast", I would respectfully suggest that this is an even more fanciful interpretation than the common "snake" theme (at least there's irrefutable evidence for the existence of snakes). With all due respect to Dr. Hahn (whose theology, I hasten to note, is from time to time subtly yet unmistakably influenced by his protestant pedigree), there is little in his explanation that reconciles the story as recounted in Genesis with the irrefutable laws of science. Are we also to believe, for example, that Adam and Eve actually lived for 930 years and 940 years, respectively (Genesis 5:5)?

Finally, while I have extraordinary respect and warm admiration for Pope Pius XII, I find the depth of thought of Pope John Paul II on this matter to be far more compelling. His 1998 encyclical, Fides et Ratio, wherein he characterizes faith and reason as "two wings of the same dove that rises in contemplation of truth", conveys the point that faith must never contradict reason. Indeed, the two are and must be compatable; where reason (science) provides irrefutable evidence, faith must accomodate reason. Accordingly, John Paul II held that the notion of evolution was not inconsistent with the notion of a Divine Creator. Fast forward through several steps of the argument and one must ultimately conclude that one shouldn't interpret each story in the Bible literally. In the case of the Genesis story, reason forbids a literal interpretation, as a single common parental lineage precludes the abundance of genetic variation that is proven to exist.

In conclusion, I respect your belief in a literal interpretation. For me, however, it's simply a bridge to far...

Nick| 2.9.12 @ 1:32PM

Trinacria,

You are very welcome.

But, you are arguing with a straw man. I made it perfectly clear that I don't believe moral truth is mutable. Abortion is "intrinsically evil," and can never be justified for any reason. As is contraception. Homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered," and can never be condoned.

Some things are wrong, but, were tolerated in ancient Israel, like divorce. Did not God call Abraham and Jacob? Did they not both commit adultery? My Bible doesn't say that God forgave Cain, by the way.

Again, this all misses the point that Adam and Eve were our first parents, that God created them, that they disobeyed God, and we all inherited their sin. This is point of the Creation narrative contained in Genesis 1-3.

You must not be that familiar with Dr. Hahn's work, to claim such a thing. Is Cardinal Newman also too Protestant for you? Protestant converts make the best Catholics, especially, these days.

I'm not sure what you mean by the "irrefutable laws of science." Darwinian evolution is only a theory, and a very poor one, at that. For all intents and purposes, it has been pretty much, um, refuted. In fact, science, through mitochondrial DNA, has shown that we descend from a common female ancestor.

Also, where in the Bible does it say that Eve lived for 940 years? Not in Genesis 5:5, that's for sure. There is nothing in science that says a human being cannot live as long as Adam did. Although, it is possible that the long ages, recorded in Genesis, do have symbolic meaning. But, I doubt it.

Pope John Paul the Great in no way contradicts Venerable Pope Pius XII. Did you read the Catholic Answers link? Also, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, has this to say about Adam and Eve:

"390 The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man.264 Revelation gives us the certainty of faith that the whole of human history is marked by the original fault freely committed by our first parents.265"

Source: http://www.vatican.va/archive/.....s2c1p7.htm

Christ and the Apostles believed in Adam and Eve, they referred to them many, many times. To deny the existence of our first parents and The Fall, is to deny Original Sin, which we all inherited from them. Why did Christ teach baptism? Why does Saint Paul use all of Romans 5 to explain Original Sin?

And, to repeat, DNA shows that we come from one female ancestor. Science and faith always exist in harmony. But, science can never overrule faith, because science is not competent to make rulings on faith. Science can only provide answers to the natural world, not the supernatural world. That is the realm of theology.
God Bless!

George S| 2.6.12 @ 12:20PM

Obama cannot grant this exception; the health care bill could unravel. If the Catholic church is allowed to be exempt because abortion is contrary to church doctrine, then other objections cannot be enforced. I am sure that Catholic hospitals would object to a doctor being restrained by a government computer limiting patient options for treatments as well as that of ending their lives because treatment is deemed expensive. The whole point of Catholic hospitals was to care for the less fortunate. Are the less fortunate not worthy of care? Obama will not want to confront that argument.

Mimi| 2.6.12 @ 12:52PM

This is clearly a NO-WIN for Obama....They should hope that the SUPREMES settle the thing before the election. Obamacare will never work in a FREE land..they should have known!

spike59| 2.8.12 @ 6:45AM

Obamacare will never work in a FREE land..they should have known!
==========================
oh, they KNOW...but they don't care

JimH| 2.6.12 @ 1:27PM

Obama’s great ‘accomplishment’, what is loosely termed health care reform, will for this reason and others cause him to lose the election (unless the GOP manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory). Had true reform been enacted, one that enabled individuals to purchase their own affordable coverage, this issue would not even arise.

Joseph A Vanchieri Jr.| 2.6.12 @ 1:40PM

As a people and society in general bash Obama for not abiding by the Constitution he swore to uphold , we need to remember that he literally hates this country and all it stands for. The answer to what Obama did should automatically mean impeachment. We have never and will never be ruled by a dictator. Obama has crossed the line quite a few times and with very little resistance. It is time for Congress and the American people to take action and show we will not stand for a President who blatonly breach everything our Constitution stands for. God Bless America and may our leaders get some backbone.

Melvin| 2.6.12 @ 1:55PM

The solution for the Catholic Church is simple. Tell Barrack Obama and Kathleen Sebelius that they can go straight to Hell. The Catholic Church has no intention of following that law or any other like it.

fckewe| 2.6.12 @ 2:24PM

Then they can enjoy losing tax exempt status and paying their fair share for their 1st amendment rights to blabber about their faith in public and influence politics out of the other 90% of their mouths.

Ed| 2.6.12 @ 2:36PM

Really? Can they? What "fair share" do you in your infinite wisdom believe you can assess as payment for exercising their first amendment rights? Do you realize that the free exercise clause comes first in the Constitution? You really think you can punish a religious institution in this way if it doesn't do what you want it to do? You, truly, are a fool.

Melvin| 2.6.12 @ 2:56PM

Oh, here we go again with this whole fairness and justice thing.
Dammit, you want fairness, I'll believe in fairness when the Department Stores has the same number of mens shoes on sale than it does with woman's.

Carlie Coats| 2.6.12 @ 2:41PM

I'm Protestant, not Roman Catholic, but...

Sibelius action is a clear attack on the First Amendment rights of religious people-- this makes it clear that she would criminalize even Mother Teresa's life of charity. As such, it properly fits under the 1971 US Supreme Court "Bivens vs Six Unnamed Agents" precedent: sovereign immunity is no defense for suits for denial of Constitutional rights; the offenders may be held personally liable in court.

Sibelius and her co-conspirators should be sued for N billion dollars, for some large (but unknown-to-me) N.

FWIW

Patrick Villella| 2.6.12 @ 2:49PM

Do these "liberal cafeteria Catholics" object to the Obama decision because of their consciences or because it will hurt Obama in the fall elections?

Melvin| 2.6.12 @ 2:59PM

The Liberal Catholics have no choice but to object. If they don't, they at least in their own minds couldn't live with their consciences.
A Liberal Catholic is only Liberal when they have no fear of burning.

spike59| 2.8.12 @ 6:46AM

a Liberal Catholic is only Catholic when it's time for re-election

Reagan Conservative| 2.6.12 @ 3:05PM

I personally believe Obama is deliberately pressing his agenda further and further because no one (including Congress) is fighting him. He sees the lukewarm responses to his radicalism, plus he has the support of the mainstream media. This has convinced him that he can continue to thwart our Constitution and the individuals rights - to radically ''change" our country - long past socialism to marxism.

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 4:34PM

Obama is not the only one who sees us (we the people) as week. The establishment Republicans also see us as week. Why do ytou think Congress has done nothing, nothing at all about anything this so called President does.
Its because this is how they want us to be. Divided so our attention is on anything but them as a whole. Its time "We the People" learned the rules of the game.
The rules are this, the two party system has become a one party system that is out for complete control of this country. Seriously, can you tell most Republicans from Democrats anymore? Most of todays Republicans would be far left of JFK. There is no two party system. If New doesn't get the nomination, its over for the middle class. Romney only cares about the wealthy. All of this is depressing. I see hwats coming and it isn't pretty, as a matter of fact its damn scary. I feel for my kids and wonder if they will even have children of their own. America, the shining light of the world has been taken over by the communist and the wealthy elite and they are dyvving it up right in front of us. One side wants our 401ks, cheap labor, and tax free profits and the other side wants all that can be taxed so they can pretend to help the helpless while they live high on the hog.
Someone please tell me I'm wrong.

Trinacria| 2.6.12 @ 4:05PM

Speaking as a Catholic who has witnessed with profound angst and disappointment the misguided capitulation of both Catholic bishops and parish priests to traditional liberal positions on issues ranging from illegal immigration (or, as my priest calls them, "undocumented workers") to wealth redistribution, I'm struggling to find sympathy with those who - by virtue of their misguided embrace of liberal ideology - are partially responsible for our present (disgraceful) state of affairs.

When those entrusted with the propogation of the faith abandon that responsibility in favor of the propoganda of the left, this is the inevitable result. As a result of intellectual laziness, they have embraced positions that "feel good", but in fact are neither rational nor consistent with authentic Catholic moral theology. When you lie down with snakes....

W| 2.6.12 @ 10:45PM

I agree we should not sympathize with the left wing progressive clergy such as the ones who gave Obama an honorary degree at Notre Dame or invited Obama to Georgetown and then covered up the IMHS so as to not offend Obama. But the people who will suffer are the workers who may lose health insurance and more importantly, all of us whose constitutional rights under the first amendment to the free exercise of religion is now limited by the government.

Trinacria| 2.7.12 @ 2:00PM

True enough. Regrettably, sometimes suffering and sacrifice are necessary to affect change. If this is what it takes to make these fools see the what they have wrought...so be it.

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 4:14PM

Its pretty clear reading some of these post that most if not all of us consider Congress to be very weak. This weakness is going to cause not a civil war, but a revolution. A strong Congress would temper the government so as not to overly agitate the people. A strong Congress would also keep the President within the constraints of the Constitution, something that McConnell and Boehnor seem to weak to even contemplate. Should a revolution occur, it might, and it probably should if this passes with Congress and the courts, then it will be the fault of both Republicans and Democrats in Congress as the majority have been speaking loudly for several years now and our demands have fallen on deaf ears and weak knees.
Just a message to you members in Congress, all of you, both parties, Freshmen included, if a Revolution does break out, we the people will give no special privilage to any of you. You caused this by being weak. We are telling you now to correct your ways. To give us back our rights and don't ever infringe on them again. We are Americans. We are not cowards and we are not afraid of our own elected officials. We are not afraid of our children and other relatives that serve in the armed forces. We know thet will not turn on us as they're oath is to the Constitution and not to Congress. While Obama may be Commander in Chief, that only applies when he is obeying the Constitution. He nor Congress would have no fear of the people and no need to ever ask the armed forces of this country to turn their sites inward on their own people if the Constitution is being followed.
You in Government today, you may loot the treasury, which you have. You may pcik and choose winners on business and fund bankrupt businesses for the kickbacks you get. We are not the dunb sheep you think we are. We are the most informed people on the face of the Earth. We are the hardest working most productive people on the face of the Earth. And we are the freeinst people on the face of the Earth and we intend to stay that way. Heed our warning.

Grammar and Spelling| 2.6.12 @ 4:24PM

You really should use me sometime...

Dmac| 2.6.12 @ 4:36PM

I know, please forgive me. You do get the intent of it though don't you?

Controse| 2.6.12 @ 6:15PM

So who is up for a call to impeach? Whine or act? Act requires courage whine requires... Obama, or whoever he is, should have been impeached two years ago when he told the Chrysler and GM bond holds to take a hike. He has been lawless every since.

Ward Bond| 2.6.12 @ 9:52PM

If you think he's lawless now what do you suppose he would do in a second term?2012 is 1933. Sig heil.

Martin Owens| 2.6.12 @ 6:38PM

The Catholic Church has brought this on itself.
For decades they were playing footsie with the Left, pretending that they weren't enemies at bottom- winking at Kennedies and Coumos and Kerys and on and on, playing both ends against the middle to preserve influence which they suddenly find they haven't got. This time THEY are the middle.

It remains to be seen if they have the guts to actually fight for their beliefs. Who knows? they may even be forced to clearly STATE their beliefs for once...

jstwndring| 2.6.12 @ 6:38PM

What hypocrites! You Catholics that voted for Obama and supported his socialized medicine are now outraged that your institutions have to contribute as well? Tough. Suck it up. You wanted Hope and Change? You got it. Eat it.

Trinacria| 2.6.12 @ 7:41PM

Regrettably, as a Catholic who most assuredly did not vote for the national disgrace currently occupying the White House, I have to agree with you. My Catholic bretheren have no one to thank but themselves. Pity.

jstwndring| 2.7.12 @ 1:53AM

I just wish the Catholic Church would use its considerable influence to eliminate Obamacare all-together. That's my frustration. Instead, it looks as though they are fine with it, as long as they get their way concerning birth-control, abortion, etc..

Trinacria| 2.7.12 @ 2:01PM

That's correct; go along to get along (as long as it doesn't jeopardize my gig).

JimmyT| 2.7.12 @ 12:04AM

This Mormon stands with Catholics, Protestants, and freedom lovers of all faiths who believe in the right to worship whom, how, and where ever we choose. Count me in!

Mollie Mehan Lucchesi| 2.7.12 @ 12:07PM

Hello Tracy; My brother Dick has forwarded some of your articles to me. I do believe that you are doing a good service to everyone. Keep up the good work of informing us . Tell your wife hello from the your St. Louis family-------Mollie Mehan Lucchesi

David Shoup| 2.7.12 @ 12:31PM

The secular humanism of Obama has been evident from the very beginning of his immaculation as the false messiah of America. He has indeed overstepped his authority...again. I am not surprised at all by the actions of a man who has no respect for the Constitution, but I am appalled...again. It is time for those who name the name of the Holy One of Israel to say that we have no king but the King of Heaven and of his Christ. W will soon free Obama and his ilk to return to Chicago.

Kathy| 2.8.12 @ 7:30AM

Love One Another. (John: 13)

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