The Cost Of Conscience

So…wanna know how much it’ll cost you to buy the conscience of the Catholic Church in America?

About $2 Billion.

From today’s press briefing with Press Secretary Jay Carney: (emphasis mine)

[...]

Q Second topic — the Catholic Church. It was a pretty extraordinary situation on Sunday in parishes all across the country, individual priests were reading letters from their bishops in that particular parish that were pretty much denouncing the Obama administration about these provisions dealing with contraception, Catholic hospitals and whatnot in connection with the Affordable Care Act. I guess my question would be, how does the administration justify having the federal government institute a law that basically forces people to violate their religious beliefs?

MR. CARNEY: Well, that misrepresents actually what the –

Q How so?

MR. CARNEY: — decision about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act –

Q How does that misrepresent –

MR. CARNEY: Well, let me — let me — let me answer. The decision was made, as we have said in the past and Secretary Sebelius has said, after very careful consideration, and the administration believes that this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious beliefs and increasing access to important preventive services. We will continue to work closely with religious groups during this transitional period to discuss their concerns.

It’s important — to go to your point — that this approach does not signal any change at all in the administration’s policy on conscience protections. The President and this administration have previously expressed strong support for existing conscience protections, including those relating to health care providers. That support continues.

I also would just note that our robust partnerships with the Catholic Church and other communities of faith will continue. The administration has provided over $2 billion to Catholic organizations over the past three years in addition to numerous nonfinancial partnerships that promote healthy communities and serve the common good.

In other words – “We bought the Catholic Church’s conscience for $2 billion.  So kwitcherbitchin.”

To Carney and Obama and Sebelius, “appropriate balance” is the balance of give-and-take:  We give you the conditions once you take the money.  That’s how they see it.  This is not so much an ace up their sleeve, but a gun to the head.  Carney’s inclusion of how much money the Church has received from the current administration over the past three years indicates to me, at least,  that that is where they’re coming from.  This talk of respecting religious beliefs is just hogwash – especially the Catholic Church’s beliefs.  It’s no skin off the administration’s nose to allow exemptions for Amish or Christian Scientists, for instance, because they don’t have any lobbyists.  But the Church – well, the Church is something altogether different due to its size and influence, both real and potential.  And the best way to minimize influence is to buy it, which is what has happened here.

And if anyone thinks such overreach is limited to just insurance coverage of birth control, just wait until federal support for pro-gay marriage really starts to ramp up.  We ain’t seen nothing yet.

Should the HHS mandate get overturned in court because it violates the 1st Amendment – and even if it doesn’t get overturned – it behooves the Catholic Church in America to immediately, absolutely and transparently refuse any more funding from the United States government.  Because the bills always come due, and they always cost more than the estimate.

I applaud the more than 100 bishops who have publicly spoken out against this mandate, as well as the countless priests who have done so from their pulpits.  But more needs to be done.  First and foremost, cut themselves off from the money line, because it just ties all their hands, and in the end, gets fashioned into a noose.  And secondly – continue to preach and teach the whole and entire faith – not just contraception and abortion and gay marriage – which are so terribly important in our present day – but e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  This has to be a constant and determined effort on the part of the bishops.  No slacking allowed.  They need to lead their flocks with guts and courage – to strengthen those who still follow, and attract those who stand on the side.

And if the Church loses its tax-exempt status?  Well, maybe that ought to go as well.  Then, as a result, the Church will be freer to evangelize and perform Her mission in the world.  And maybe – just maybe – Catholics throughout the nation will truly come to depend on God instead of on government, as we ought.   Government doesn’t answer prayers, at least not without some hefty strings attached.

No one ought to be surprised at Obama’s HHS mandate – if they are, then hopefully they’ve seen the error of their ways and their eyes are opened.   Sure, he spoke of “common ground” and whatnot at Notre Dame.  Big whoop.  Common ground merely means you’ve taken our money, so you go shut your mouth.

The only way this changes is for the Church to stop taking the money.  They must stop seeking common ground with liars and deceivers, and stand strong upon the rock of truth.  That’s the only common ground worth standing on, for all Catholics.  Government largesse won’t help anyone make it to heaven, but accepting it certainly helps to grease the slide into hell.

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