St. Henry School students Anna
Kate Plasko, 5th grade, and Gracie Weisiger, 2nd grade,
dip their fingers into the baptismal font at the
Cathedral of the Incarnation before the All Schools Mass
held there on Feb. 1. As part of Catholic Schools Week,
student representatives from all the schools in the
diocese gathered for Mass at the Cathedral. Because
Bishop David Choby was in Rome for his ad limina visit,
Father Mike Johnston, pastor of St. Henry Parish,
celebrated the Mass.
More photos
My
Dear People of God,
On
one occasion in Jesus’ life he was challenged by some
who sought to trap him in a controversy over whether or
not it was lawful for a Jewish person to pay a tax to
the Roman Empire. He responded by saying, “Give to
Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but give to God what
belongs to God.”
No
one can accuse us as Catholics of failing in our civic
duties. Following the urging of St. Paul, we regularly
pray for our civil officials; asking that through them
and their decisions the common good be promoted. We pay
our taxes when in some cases (education) we derive no
benefit from what we contribute. Catholic men and women
have sacrificed their lives both totally in death, and
perpetually through injuries of war.
Now,
however, it seems that which we offer by way of our
affection and commitment to our country has received an
indifferent response from those who currently govern us.
We
were assured on at least two occasions that we as
Catholics would not be put in a position to disregard or
violate our consciences in the area of certain medical
procedures. This assurance was delivered by no one less
than the president himself, first to Congressman Bart
Stupak then to Cardinal–designate Timothy Dolan of New
York.
Now
we face a mandate from the Department of Health and
Human Services that requires us as the Church to provide
insurance to cover procedures and practices that
directly violate Catholic moral principles.
If
we are forced to provide for tubal ligations and
abortifacient drugs, what is to keep the government from
demanding that Catholic hospitals provide abortions? We
are in the business to make people whole and well. Ours
is not the business of attacking life. But to receive it
and nurture it as a gift from God.
The
bishops of the United States are unified in our
opposition to this measure. However, our views will not
receive a great deal of consideration in the public
square. They will be dismissed as being “out of touch.”
I
want to encourage your involvement in this issue. First,
continue to pray for those elected to lead us. Second,
study and read about the Church’s efforts to defend and
promote the sanctity of life; and finally, take your
rightful place in the political process by communicating
to those at the national level your opposition to this
particular consequence of the new health care
initiative.
The
soul of the nation is influenced in the values we
embrace. As a Church we do great things to respond to
the dignity of persons at all stages of life. We should
not be required to do those things which violate the
principles which inspire and guide our efforts to heal
and make whole.
Assuring you of my support, I am,
Sincerely in Christ,
Most
Rev. David R. Choby, Bishop of Nashville
Bishops
urge Catholic voters to demand change
in HHS regulations
From
staff reports and Catholic News Service
It
will be up to Catholic voters to convince the federal
government to rescind a recent decision by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to go forward
with new regulations requiring that all health insurance
plans cover contraceptives and sterilization free of
charge, said Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M., of
Philadelphia.
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