Leaked E-mail Shows Media Campaign Against US Bishops

[Moore11]

Originally Posted by Seeker1961

Believe what you wish about me and about all those politicians you're putting all that trust in. Your opinion of me is none of my business. For your sakes, I hope I am wrong because with all you've invested in this it's going to be really hard on you if I'm not.

I shall take my tin foil hat and will annoy you no further on this issue.

Just curious seeker, what do you think should be done about Roe V wade? And what do you think of the HHS mandate?

[Seeker1961]

Originally Posted by Moore11

Just curious seeker, what do you think should be done about Roe V wade?

Honestly, I believe that it's not going away. Therefore, our job as Catholics is to focus on bringing people to Jesus and letting HIM change their hearts. Once you have truly experienced that kind of change, acting in a manner that would not please Him is unthinkable-especially an action as serious as abortion. Put the abortionists out of business by eliminating the need for their services.

I feel that way about a lot of sins in the world. Change is only possible through Jesus, through His grace and the frequent reception of the Eucharist-so bringing people to Him is our only hope.

BTW-that's why I am a "returned Catholic"- Someone cared enough to show me Christ's love and lead me back so He could change my life.

[Moore11]

Originally Posted by Seeker1961

Honestly, I believe that it's not going away. Therefore, our job as Catholics is to focus on bringing people to Jesus and letting HIM change their hearts. Once you have truly experienced that kind of change, acting in a manner that would not please Him is unthinkable-especially an action as serious as abortion. Put the abortionists out of business by eliminating the need for their services.

I feel that way about a lot of sins in the world. Change is only possible through Jesus, through His grace and the frequent reception of the Eucharist-so bringing people to Him is our only hope.

Thanks for being honest. I think we all get the picture now.

[JimR-OCDS]

Originally Posted by Seeker1961

Honestly, I believe that it's not going away. Therefore, our job as Catholics is to focus on bringing people to Jesus and letting HIM change their hearts. Once you have truly experienced that kind of change, acting in a manner that would not please Him is unthinkable-especially an action as serious as abortion. Put the abortionists out of business by eliminating the need for their services.

I feel that way about a lot of sins in the world. Change is only possible through Jesus, through His grace and the frequent reception of the Eucharist-so bringing people to Him is our only hope.

BTW-that's why I am a "returned Catholic"- Someone cared enough to show me Christ's love and lead me back so He could change my life.

Amen!


Jim

[Rebelecka]

I feel that too much emphysis is being placed on just the contraception, sterilization and abortifacient end of things. Yes, these are not in keeping with the Catholic teachings. But the bigger problem is the freedom of religion aspect. If the President, by mandate only, can tell us what we should view as proper ministries of our Church (serve and employ only Catholics), then we have passed from freedom of religion (care of others in Christ's name) to freedom of worship (what we do amongst ourselves) only.

[LisaA]

Originally Posted by Rebelecka

I feel that too much emphysis is being placed on just the contraception, sterilization and abortifacient end of things. Yes, these are not in keeping with the Catholic teachings. But the bigger problem is the freedom of religion aspect. If the President, by mandate only, can tell us what we should view as proper ministries of our Church (serve and employ only Catholics), then we have passed from freedom of religion (care of others in Christ's name) to freedom of worship (what we do amongst ourselves) only.

Unfortunately this is being driven by the media, even the "friendly' media that keeps talking about contraception or banning birth control pills. The media is also friendly to the proponents of the HHS Mandate (aka Democrats) who will stand up and simply lie. My own senator claimed that 'A small group of Right Wing extremists want to keep women from getting necessary health care!" I wrote to him and said either you are lying or you are ignorant (I was a little nicer than that). He responded with the usual blah blah blah about being dedicated to women's healthcare. Multiply my Senator by all the various Obama Administration supporters, spokesmen and shills and the narrative is being twisted to make the Church sound unreasonable.

The Bishops when interviewed focus on the religious freedom aspects. Unfortunately they don't have the bully pulpit.

Lisa

[Linda Marie]

Originally Posted by LisaA

Unfortunately this is being driven by the media, even the "friendly' media that keeps talking about contraception or banning birth control pills. The media is also friendly to the proponents of the HHS Mandate (aka Democrats) who will stand up and simply lie. My own senator claimed that 'A small group of Right Wing extremists want to keep women from getting necessary health care!" I wrote to him and said either you are lying or you are ignorant (I was a little nicer than that). He responded with the usual blah blah blah about being dedicated to women's healthcare. Multiply my Senator by all the various Obama Administration supporters, spokesmen and shills and the narrative is being twisted to make the Church sound unreasonable.

The Bishops when interviewed focus on the religious freedom aspects. Unfortunately they don't have the bully pulpit.

Lisa

Manipulating the message is part of their modus operandi. They are 'setting the narrative', and these proposed questions are an integral part of that. In this case, their story is that the bishops are: trying to impose Catholic morality on everyone, don't have authentic Catholic teaching, are in a 'war against women', and are hopelessly 'out of touch' etc., and that organisations like NETWORK, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and the LCWR are the ones to listen to regarding faith and morals in public life.

Narrative-setting Campaigns

In addition to providing capacity-building tools, resources, and trainings to local, state, and national religious leaders and organizations, Faith in Public Life also proactively identifies moments of opportunity when a targeted event or campaign can effectively broaden or shift the values debate.

Just look at the staff and board.
- Jennifer's experience working on global human rights issues at the United Nations
- Jessica joins Faith in Public Life after three years serving as communications director for former Rep. Tom Perriello on his election campaigns and on Capitol Hill <...> She holds a bachelor’s degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies from New York University.
- John,<...> He joins FPL after three years at Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good,
- Before joining FPL, Nick worked at Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.
- Before coming to Faith in Public Life, Casey participated in the Associate Program at NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby.
- Katie has extensive professional political experience, having worked on Democratic gubernatorial, senatorial and presidential campaigns and as Research Director at Media Matters for America and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by Seeker1961

I spent a LOT of time in politics and I can play this out. The administration is going to change the law to allow religious organizations to opt out of federal fundng and thus remove the obligation. Then the Church can no longer support the argument that they are being forced to obey, just opt out of the funding and you can do what you want.

I am inclined to agree with you on this. I truly do believe the Obama administration is going to issue some "eleventh hour" change that will no longer force Catholic institutions to provide contraceptives, abortifacients, sterilizations and in vitro fertilization.

I really do.

But if he is re-elected, he can just re-impose it again, and worse. It isn't as if Catholics didn't oppose this the first time around. He stood unmoved. If Obama somehow tweaks the mandate in order to fool Catholics AGAIN, people ought to recognize that it's just another trick.

[scipio337]

It's very sad to see some Catholics still standing with Caesar.

[Linda Marie]

Originally Posted by Seeker1961

I spent a LOT of time in politics and I can play this out. The administration is going to change the law to allow religious organizations to opt out of federal fundng and thus remove the obligation. Then the Church can no longer support the argument that they are being forced to obey, just opt out of the funding and you can do what you want.

This is incorrect. The provisions of the ACA insurance mandate have nothing to do with the receipt of taxpayer funding. They are applicable to all businesses except those who have received waivers.


Labor Unions Get Lion’s Share of Final ACA Waivers

If providing BCP, Ella, Plan B etc free of charge is so important as to risk the loss of Catholic universities, hospitals etc, across the nation, why aren't labor unions being required to provide it as well?

The answer is that it was never about providing coverage for 'reproductive health' but a direct attack on the Church, just as this group, Faith in Public Life, is attacking the bishops with their media campaign.

WOLF: Obamacare waiver corruption must stop

More than 50 percent of the Obamacare waiver beneficiaries are union members, which is striking because union members account for less than 12 percent of the American work force. The same unions that provided more than $120 million to Democrats in the last two elections and, in many cases, openly campaigned in favor of the government takeover of your health care, now celebrate that Obamacare is not their problem.

[manualman]

There is some truth to Seeker's objections, but he draws the utterly wrong conclusions from the lessons.

I agree that the republican party is NOT one of pure white hats and noble pro-life principle. I agree that there have been phony pro-lifers in the party, even presidents. I find it highly suspicious that democrats can have a 100% success rate picking vehemently pro-Roe SC justices, but that republicans have been "surprised" that just under half of the republican SC appointees since Reagan turned out to be Roe supporters as well. I'm fairly convinced that HW Bush didn't really give a rip about the abortion issue and simply mouthed the line to keep the troops obedient. W Bush was a bit better, but possibly only because we pro-lifers got in his face and demanded that he be better. We aren't going to tolerate lip service anymore. I vote republican because of that plank, but I vote in primaries based on who I believe is ACTUALLY pro-life. This is why Romney worries me. He can't be as bad as Obama, but we're going to have to keep in his face to prevent any more Souters, Kennedy's and O'Connor SC justices!

And as Seeker noticed, the Dems are just as bad. They talk up immigration reform, but really they LIKE the way republicans are demonizing illegals. They like the way the current law considers them vermin and the way republicans defend that law to the hilt. Illegals have kids here that grow up hearing from republicans what monsters their parents are. Kids who will grow up to be a GREAT Democratic voting bloc. No wonder the Dems did NOTHING whatsoever to bring about a just immigration policy during the time they controlled the presidency and BOTH wings of Congress. Pot, meet kettle. One can make similar arguments about other minorities that the Dems supposedly champion.

Where I utterly disagree with Seeker is that the solution is to give up on political involvement, cede the battlefield to the self-seeking politicians and try to fix the world only via personal witness. Public policy MATTERS. It highly influences people's perceptions of what is good and what is wrong. Christians are called to do MORE than just battle evil in politics, but involvement in politics is a component that cannot and must not be neglected as he suggests.

Instead, get invovled early. Educate yourself and vote for the best candidates in the PRIMARIES. Even if the best guy has no chance, vote for him. Every vote IS counted and pols DO notice when they lose the support of certain voting blocs. Make your pro-life voice heard.