Saturday, March 17, 2007

Religious Liberty

At some point we should be allowed to uphold our religious views in our work place. Why is it OK to force someone to violate his/her heart because someone else thinks it is more convent?

15-March-2007 -- Catholic News Agency

Conn. Bill Could Jeopardize Religious Liberty of Catholic Hospitals
Hartford, Mar 15, 2007 (CNA) - Catholic groups are urging the Connecticut legislature not to pass a bill that would force the state's four Catholic hospitals to provide the emergency contraception pill to all rape victims, independent of whether ovulation has begun.
The Connecticut Catholic Conference, the Catholic League, the four Catholic hospitals, Connecticut Right to Life, and the Family Institute of Connecticut have all voiced their opposition to the bill, presented by Rep. Deborah Heinrich.

The same proposal failed to pass last year. The Human Services Committee must act on the bill by March 22 or, like last year, it would fail.

“I respectfully urge you not to jeopardize the religious-liberty prerogatives of Catholic hospitals,” said Catholic League president Bill Donohue in a letter to the Legislature’s Human Services Committee.

“The emergency contraception pill may act as an abortifacient — not a contraceptive — depending on whether the woman has begun ovulation,” he said. “In those instances, it would be totally immoral for Catholic hospitals to cooperate in the termination of innocent human life.”
The four Catholic hospitals have been following a protocol since January 2006 in which they can offer the morning-after pill only under certain circumstances.

“If it has been determined that ovulation has not taken place, then Catholic hospitals are free to prescribe Plan B,” Donohue explained.

If the patient has ovulated, the doctors cannot prescribe Plan B. The protocol directs doctors to provide the rape victim with a list of places where she can receive it and transportation if necessary.

While Plan B has been available over the counter since January, advocates of the proposed legislation say it should be part of standard medical care for rape victims at the time of their treatment.

The Connecticut Catholic Conference notes that if the policy of Catholic hospitals regarding emergency contraception can be altered by legislation, then the next effort will most likely be to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions.

“The Catholic health care system has provided the citizens of Connecticut with a high standard of care for decades. These institutions should not be forced to violate their religious beliefs, especially those concerning the human dignity of every person, no matter at what stage of life,” the conference said in a statement.

Immigration

For those of you who know me well you know not too long ago I was all for closing our borders to anyone who does not meet the highest standards. Now my opinion has changed. I still agree we should not tolerate undocumented, simply for a security issue. However, the current undocumented should not be booted; however, they should be encouraged to come forward to obtain training to obtain documentation. The problem with people is they tend not to want to follow laws if they do not have to do so. For example, a friend of mine was driving and someone hit her. When the cops came they found the other driver was undocumented, so he did not have a license or insurance. The officer stated that Indiana INS does not deport for “minor” infractions. So here this person has broken 2 laws, destroyed my friends auto, and he had no consequences to pay!
On the other hand you hear about the undocumented being given free schooling and even being allowed college. Many of these programs are supported by the taxpayers; however, if they are not here legally, they do not pay taxes. This could be viewed as another form of welfare. I propose to get documentation for all of them, get taxes from them, and enforce our laws on them. I figure anyone who is on foreign soil should obey the laws of that land (as long as they do not come in conflict with God’s laws).
Here is an article from EWTN: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory_print.asp?number=76835
Take your time and look though this. If anyone reads this let me know your opinion. BTW it would be helpful if you add your religious/political stance. This way I can more fully understand your position. Mine is Catholic/Republican.

EWTNews
16-Mar-2007 -- N
Cardinal O'Malley Calls for More Humane Immigration Policy
Boston, Mar 16, 2007 (CNA) - The immigration raid in New Bedford last week is evidence of the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform in the United States, said Cardinal Sean O'Malley in a comment published yesterday in the Boston Globe.
"President George W. Bush has called for it, Senators Edward Kennedy and John McCain have worked for it, but the objective has been mired in political rhetoric and obstructive tactics at several levels of the political process," the Cardinal-Archbishop of Boston wrote.
While the people arrested in last week’s raid are illegal immigrants, respecting their humanity and the meeting the needs of the women and children, whose situation is desperate, should be foremost, the cardinal said.
The Cardinal said he is concerned about some of the principles guiding the response and the fact that a policy that meets the immediate needs of those who were caught up in last week's raid is not yet in place.
O’Malley pointed out that in order to be released from custody those arrested in New Bedford had to assert that they were "the sole caretaker" of their children.
“The question is intended to guarantee one parent or caretaker for each child, but reports indicate that this goal has not been met,” he said.
“More important, the question fails to produce an acceptable humanitarian policy. Mothers can be separated from their children, and perhaps deported, as long as there would be a caretaker for the children remaining in Massachusetts,” he stated.
“Our shared respect for humanity and our faith in the promise of a better future call us to do better,” he concluded.