If you have a cellphone, you've probably griped at some point about the insane surcharges that are added onto your bill. You cannot opt out, unless you are willing to get rid of your cellphone. In New York, we have paid $1.20 every month for over a decade into a state mandated fund intended to assist counties to update their 911 programs. In 2010, $190 million was collected and only $9.3 million was actually disbursed to the counties in New York. I cannot imagine anyone being against having an emergency response service in our communities. Most of us have benefited at one time or another by having police, ambulance, or fire services just a few moments away thanks to an efficient 911 dispatch system. Governments are important for a civilized society, but why do we sit idle when we are being forced to pay, or overpay, for things that do not benefit us as they promised? HERE is the legislation calling for a repeal in NY.
Once something becomes law in the U.S., like most places, it may take decades to repeal. This includes legislation that is unpopular with the vast majority of voters, but the officials we elect sponsor the programs. If they received the majority of votes by constituents, certainly those elected are much wiser and more experienced than the voting public. Right?
Enter PL 111-148, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or the less-than-affectionate moniker, Obamacare. Open the linked document if you must, but consider yourself warned; it is a 906-page .pdf file. On page 53, you'll find that the secretary of Health and Human Services has a lot of power to determine what will be paid for and the cost of services provided. Those of us enrolled in the healthcare program won't be charged more than $1 per month for abortion coverage so that others may exercise the their right to abortion. But - but - we won't have to pay for abortions, right? That is what we are promised by the government. This cannot be right - Kelly and others are stupid, know-nothing-right-wing-woman-hating-homophobic-ignorant-pigs, right?
Accounting procedure. If I had withheld a few numbers on my 1040 form this year, or moved numbers from the income field to the expense field, it would have been an 'accounting procedure.' Just pay the surcharge to a 'special account' and hide your head under your pillow. You'll be paying for 'services' that won't deny women their rights, but you won't be told what the services are just in case it might make you feel uncomfortable.
Only a dollar. Human flesh is still cheap.
When Jesus came to Golgotha, they hanged Him on a tree, They drove great nails through hands and feet, and made a Calvary; They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, red were His wounds and deep, For those were crude and cruel days, and human flesh was cheap. --From When Jesus Came to Birmingham by G. A. Studdert-Kennedy
The U.S. government's vicious attack on religious liberty continues, and the Obama administration punts the HHS Mandate. Click on the links for the latest stories about the HHS Mandate you won't hear about in the mainstream media.
*Read previous +Ponderings+ about HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius by clicking HERE. There is a very good reason Kansas was referred to as "Bleeding Kansas" while she served as their governor.
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA, SECRETARY SEBELIUS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
DON'T CLAIM TO SPEAK FOR ALL WOMEN
We are women who support the competing voice offered by Catholic institutions on matters of sex, marriage and family life. Most of us are Catholic, but some are not. We are Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Many, at some point in our careers, have worked for a Catholic institution. We are proud to have been part of the religious mission of that school, or hospital, or social service organization. We are proud to have been associated not only with the work Catholic institutions perform in the community – particularly for the most vulnerable -- but also with the shared sense of purpose found among colleagues who chose their job because, in a religious institution, a job is always also a vocation.
Those currently invoking "women's health" in an attempt to shout down anyone who disagrees with forcing religious institutions or individuals to violate deeply held beliefs are more than a little mistaken, and more than a little dishonest. Even setting aside their simplistic equation of "costless" birth control with "equality," note that they have never responded to the large body of scholarly research indicating that many forms of contraception have serious side effects, or that some forms act at some times to destroy embryos, or that government contraceptive programs inevitably change the sex, dating and marriage markets in ways that lead to more empty sex, more non-marital births and more abortions. It is women who suffer disproportionately when these things happen.
No one speaks for all women on these issues. Those who purport to do so are simply attempting to deflect attention from the serious religious liberty issues currently at stake. Each of us, Catholic or not, is proud to stand with the Catholic Church and its rich, life-affirming teachings on sex, marriage and family life. We call on President Obama and our Representatives in Congress to allow religious institutions and individuals to continue to witness to their faiths in all their fullness.
Kim Daniels JDFormer CounselThomas More Law Center (MD)
As a woman, were you born inferior due to your fertility and require fixing with a birth control pill? If that repair doesn't take, does your inferiority need to be repaired with surgery? Mr. Obama and his administration, along with other Planned Parenthood supporters, say that you are broken without their intervention. Does that make sense to you?
Ladies, you may click HERE to add your name to the growing list of women who wish to let Mr. Obama, Mrs. Pelosi, Ms. Fluke and Ms. Sebelius that they don't speak for us! Help spread the word!
Where are the women? The question should be "where is the media to report on the women who are not being heard?" The Catholic Information Center hosted a panel of women in opposition to the HHS Mandate. It is lengthy, but I urge you to watch the video linked HERE. If indeed you are opposed to the HHS Mandate, it will be worth your time. Legal and constitutional implications of the mandate is discussed and you will be educated on various points that have not been discussed elsewhere.
The fight to retain our religious liberty continues to mount. In the media, Catholics are referred to as outdated, anti-choicers, oppressors, and totally barbaric in our treatment of women. This is the Garden of Eden all over again. The serpent taunting Eve, insisting that she needs to be enlightened and will be much better for eating the forbidden fruit. It is difficult to sift fact from the enormous amount of fiction circulated by the secularists. I wanted to give you some updated information and will continue to post new information as it is available. The more we educate ourselves on the situation, the better we will be prepared to act.
Cardinal Dolan
Timothy Cardinal Dolan released a new letter to all U.S. Bishops on March 2, 2012 and it may be found HERE.
Some highlights of the four-page memo:
We will once again dedicate ample time at our Administrative Committee meeting next week, and at the June Plenary Assembly, to this critical subject. We will continue to listen, discuss, deliberate and act.
We have made it clear in no uncertain terms to the government that we are not at peace with its invasive attempt to curtail the religious freedom we cherish as Catholics and Americans. We did not ask for this fight, but we will not run from it.
We are grateful to know so many of our fellow Americans, especially our friends in the ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, stand together in this important moment in our country. They know that this is not just about sterilization, abortifacients, and chemical contraception. It’s about religious freedom, the sacred right of any Church to define its own teaching and ministry.
In the coming weeks the Conference will continue to provide you, among other things, with catechetical resources on the significance of religious freedom to the Church and the Church’s teaching on it from a doctrinal and moral perspective. We are developing liturgical aids to encourage prayer in our efforts and plans on how we can continue to voice our public and strong opposition to this infringement on our freedom.
The White House already notified Congress that the dreaded mandates are now published in the Federal Registry “without change.” The Secretary of HHS is widely quoted as saying, “Religious insurance companies don’t really design the plans they sell based on their own religious tenets.” That doesn’t bode well for their getting a truly acceptable “accommodation.”
At a recent meeting between staff of the bishops’ conference and the White House staff, our staff members asked directly whether the broader concerns of religious freedom—that is, revisiting the straight-jacketing mandates, or broadening the maligned exemption—are all off the table. They were informed that they are. [...] Instead, they advised the bishops’ conference that we should listen to the “enlightened” voices of accommodation, such as the recent, hardly surprising yet terribly unfortunate editorial in America. The White House seems to think we bishops simply do not know or understand Catholic teaching and so, taking a cue from its own definition of religious freedom, now has nominated its own handpicked official Catholic teachers.
...our bishops’ conference, many individual religious entities, and other people of good will are working with some top-notch law firms who feel so strongly about this that they will represent us pro-bono. In the upcoming days, you will hear much more about this encouraging and welcome development.
Ms. Fluke testifies about her right to birth control.
Washington Post
Unless you've been living in a cave (and who could blame you?), you have heard and/or seen the testimony before Nancy Pelosi and her committee teary-eyed individuals, touched beyond compare. Ms. Fluke shared the horrendous burden of paying for her own birth control pills.
As with all radicals targeting the Church today, Ms. Fluke's story proved to be much more interesting upon further investigation. As reported by Stephen Gutowski:
However, as I discovered today, birth control is not all that Ms. Fluke believes private health insurance must cover. She also, apparently, believes that it is discrimination deserving of legal action if "gender reassignment" surgeries are not covered by employer provided health insurance. She makes these views clear in an article she co-edited with Karen Hu in the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law.
It seems that Ms. Fluke is a radical prop embraced by the sex-obsessed left, and not the financially barren birth control deprived law student the media and radical left wing sold her to be. Read the entire article by Mr. Gutowski HERE.
Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
Many have been filed lawsuits against the mandate, including Priests for Life. They have asked others to add their names to a Citizens Amicus Brief in Support of Priests for Life vs. Sebelius. You may do so HERE.
President Obama and Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary
You may contact Ms. Sebelius and tell her to Stop the HHS Power Grab by going to Catholicvote.org HERE.
Did you know that there is going to be a nationwide rally in defense of religious freedom? Please click HERE to learn more. In Buffalo, it will take place at Senator Schumer's office (contact info. HERE) and in the Diocese of Rochester, it has been reported that one will take place in Canandaigua (further info. will be found in comments on the Cleansing Fire post HERE).
Did you sign the petition yet? Go HERE to learn more and add your name.
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Edited to add: I came across an article written by law professor Robert K. Vischer in First Things. He argues that the current trend to fight against sharia law in some of our states is a fight against religious freedom. The article is very interesting and one I find important to consider as Catholics and other groups are engaged in a fight to retain our own religious liberty.
March 12, 2012: This just in from Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life:
The eight lawsuits so far, arranged by the date they were filed, are as follows:
November 10, 2011 Belmont Abbey College v. Sebelius December 21, 2011 Colorado Christian University v. Sebelius February 9, 2012 Eternal Word Television Network v. Sebelius February 15, 2012 Priests for Life v. Sebelius February 20, 2012 Louisiana College v. Sebelius February 21, 2012 Ave Maria University v. Sebelius February 21, 2012 Geneva College v. Sebelius February 23, 2012 Bruning v. Sebelius (This is the one whose plaintiffs include the states of Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.)
A line has been drawn in the sand, and President Obama and his supporters have made their contempt for religious freedom known by proceeding with the HHS Mandate. Sadly, many such supporters are among the nearly 70 million American Catholics. The outstanding turnout of over 100 Catholics from the Diocese of Buffalo at a town hall meeting with Rep. Kathy Hochul (D) was due to the concerted efforts of WLOF Catholic radio, the Catholic Men's group MOJC, and Fr. Leon Biernat. With only two days notice, they were able to move Catholics to attend this meeting which took place last Friday morning. It must also be mentioned that WGRZ News in Buffalo is very supportive of the local Catholic community and did an excellent job providing coverage.
WASHINGTON—The Catholic bishops of the United States called “literally unconscionable” a decision by the Obama Administration to continue to demand that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans. Today's announcement means that this mandate and its very narrow exemption will not change at all; instead there will only be a delay in enforcement against some employers.
“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The cardinal-designate continued, “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable.It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty."
The HHS rule requires that sterilization and contraception – including controversial abortifacients – be included among “preventive services” coverage in almost every healthcare plan available to Americans. “The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy is a disease to be prevented at all costs,” added Cardinal-designate Dolan.At issue, the U.S. bishops and other religious leaders insist, is the survival of a cornerstone constitutionally protected freedom that ensures respect for the conscience of Catholics and all other Americans.
“This is nothing less than a direct attack on religion and First Amendment rights,” said Franciscan Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairperson of the board at Franciscan Alliance, Inc., a system of 13 Catholic hospitals. “I have hundreds of employees who will be upset and confused by this edict. I cannot understand it at all.”
Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, voiced disappointment with the decision. Catholic hospitals serve one out of six people who seek hospital care annually.“This was a missed opportunity to be clear on appropriate conscience protection,” Sister Keehan said.
Cardinal-designate Dolan urged that the HHS mandate be overturned.“The Obama administration has now drawn an unprecedented line in the sand,” he said. “The Catholic bishops are committed to working with our fellow Americans to reform the law and change this unjust regulation. We will continue to study all the implications of this troubling decision.”
According to the Catholic Charities USA website, they are now in a partnership with the United States government. A federal contract will reportedly provide Catholic Charities USA with up to 100 million dollars to provide disaster relief.
Alexandria, VA—Following its well-documented provision of disaster services in the aftermath of Katrina and last year’s Gustav and Ike, Catholic Charities USA has been selected by the government to provide disaster case management nationwide. It is the first-ever Federal contract for the 100 year old human service organization.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Administration for Children and Families(ACF) section has awarded Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to prepare for and provide disaster case management operations throughout the United States and all its Territories. The contract, which spans a 5-year timeframe, was effective July 20. While it covers all types of disasters, the agreement is just in time to help ensure that the federal government and FEMA are prepared with case management resources for the ‘09 Hurricane season. Under the contract HHS can issue task orders to CCUSA for aid in connection with a specific disaster.
“We all hope and pray for zero disasters, but reality forces us to be prepared,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. “Our people, our agencies, and our partners have exceptional first-hand experience—not only from Katrina, Gustav and Ike—but from our every day work in serving those most devastated and most in need across the country. People know they can turn to Catholic Charities to get the job done. We thank the Department of Health and Human Services for their confidence in us.”
The expansive contract calls for CCUSA to organize national, regional and local teams and to work in partnership with these teams to help ensure disaster case management preparedness and delivery. Acting as General Contractor, CCUSA will pre-identify local/regional volunteers and sub-contractors, enter into agreement with them, provide training and experience in disaster case management, and be ready to deploy and implement anywhere in the country within 72 hours of a FEMA designated disaster.
The first task order issued under the contract will fund case management work relating to the aftermath of Gustav and Ike. Fr. Snyder, who became president of the organization in 2005 and almost immediately became involved in Katrina response as part of his start-up leadership, will take an active oversight role for the contract.
“It’s a very strong endorsement of who we are and what we do, and powerful recognition of the donors who support us and who we will now need to count on more than ever.” Fr. Snyder continued. “The contract funding is specifically for disaster case management operations, which handle individual and family needs long after the initial impact. It does not cover disaster response direct assistance, so we must continue to maintain and grow our donations to support that critical front.”
“It really is a tremendous opportunity for CCUSA,” added Fr. Snyder. “We are up to the task, and have the commitment and compassion to make sure we live up to the trust placed in us.” He further noted that Catholic Charities, which at approximately $4 billion is among the top five largest non-profit charities in the country, will reach out to its counterpart major organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army and others to communicate the contract and establish any mutual engagement opportunities.
Certainly it is a great statement about the effective, healing and far-reaching hand of Catholic Charities for them to be given such a contract. I am also very concerned whenever the government has a finger on a Catholic anything. Do keep in mind that the HHS is headed by the very same Kathleen Sibelius (Dr. Tiller's biggest fan) discussed here at +Ponderings+ several times in the past.
There are those who say that Catholic college and universities’ decisions to accept federal monies and federal student aid grants have resulted, in some cases, in faculties where the majority of educators are not Catholic, thus weakening the Catholic identity of the school and the ability of students to receive an authentically Catholic education.
Breaking News: Kathleen Sebelius won the Senate vote 65-31 today. Perhaps with the 'swine flu' picking up steam, our new Health and Human Service Secretary will leave the unborn alone --- for a while.
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UPDATE: Here is how the votes stacked up from FreeRepublic:
As Governor of Kansas, the future U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a bill which would have put limits on late-term abortion in her state. This comes just as her confirmation hearings have slowed the approval process. Confident that the Democrats will give her the backing she needs, she expressed her concern in the KS legislation that doctors would face intimidation if the bill had passed. I suppose when your bread is 'buttered' with the blood of dead children, you would have a skewed sense of right and wrong. The 60 votes necessary in the Senate are to be cast sometime in the week to come and Ms. Sebelius will soon be in charge of major decisions related to the health of over 300 million Americans. Not very comforting.
Under the bill, physicians would have been required to report additional information to the state about the late-term abortions they perform, and prosecutors in multiple counties could pursue criminal charges over potentially illegal late-term procedures.
Also, doctors could have faced lawsuits if their patients later believed a late-term abortion violated the law. A woman's husband or a girl's parent or guardian also could file a lawsuit.
"The governor once again showed leadership in representing the great majority of Kansans who support reasonable restrictions while assuring access to health care," Peter Brownlie, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, said in a statement.
Who would have thought the likes of George Tiller were performing life-saving procedures. I guess she does.
The Sebelius nomination has cleared one of the final hurdles and if all goes as it appears to be heading, she will be the Secretary of Health and Human Services in short order. The Senate Finance Committee voted today 11-5 in favor of moving the vote to the full Senate. The Senate nod is expected to be swift. Perhaps she will have a spot for Tiller under her administrative wing, though if he has paid his taxes, he probably would not fit in with the lot. I would not be shocked if he were selected for a job to head a study on obstetrics and the need for fewer obstetricians in the U.S. for years to come.
To read more +Ponderings+ on Ms. Sebelius' nomination, click HERE. For more about Mr. Tiller, click HERE.
By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A second financial revelation has cast further doubt on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' representation to the Senate Finance Committee of the nature of her relationship with late-term abortionist George Tiller.
Sebelius is President Obama's nominee for the secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS). She is currently seeking Senate confirmation.
After Sebelius was recently found to have reported only a fraction of Tiller's $38,450 in donations to her insurance commissioner campaign, Operation Rescue yesterday released a copy of a 2002 letter from Tiller stating that he contributed $200,000 to his political action committee (PAC) to assist Sebelius' gubernatorial reelection.
In the letter addressed to members of ProKanDo, Tiller's political action committee, Tiller warns against Sebelius' "anti-choice" opponent Tim Shallenburger, and expresses regret that his "personal contribution of $200,000 to ProKanDo" was not enough "to alert voters to the anti-choice position of Mr. Shallenberger (sic)."
Tiller then urges constituents to raise another $250,000 to help spread the message that Sebelius' opponent "does not trust women."
(To view Tiller's letter, go to: http://operationrescue.org/pdfs/Tiller%20letter,%202002.pdf)
As governor, Sebelius consistently vetoed even minimal regulations on late-term abortions in the state, where Tiller carries out one of the busiest late-term businesses in the country. The Kansas-based Operation Rescue has also detailed an apparently cozy relationship between Sebelius and the notorious abortionist, whom the governor hosted in 2007 for a private dinner party along with his whole abortion staff in the governor's mansion.
Pro-life advocates who raised the alarm at Sebelius' nomination had urged committee members to question her about her association with the abortion industry during confirmation hearings. The topic, however, was not broached during the hearings.
But in a packet of Committee questions Sebelius answered that were published earlier this week, Sebelius downplayed her association with Tiller. In one question, Republican senator John Kyl asked: "Can you describe your relationship with Mr. Tiller? Has he ever contributed to your campaign or has your PAC ever received money from Mr. Tiller or a PAC related to Mr. Tiller?"
Sebelius responded: "I have been familiar with Dr. Tiller for many years because he lives and works in Kansas. Dr. Tiller, like many Kansans, contributed to my campaign for insurance commissioner. I received $12,450 over an eight-year period (1994-2001), which represented 1 percent of my total contributions during that time. Since that time, I have received no donations from Dr. Tiller or any PAC related to him."
After it was revealed that reports on file with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission show the figure to be closer to $38,450, the HHS called Sebelius' answer an "oversight" that would be corrected. However, a senior Senate Republican aide told the Christian Broadcasting Network that the GOP plans to probe the affair, which some see as having raised transparency questions as well as concerns over Sebelius' abortion agenda.
"This letter is the smoking gun showing that Sebelius continues to conceal the full extent of her financial support from Tiller," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman about the newest revelations of Tiller's support for Sebelius. "Kathleen Sebelius benefited from the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Tiller personally gave to influence the outcome of the 2002 election in her favor. This letter is undeniable evidence that Sebelius has yet to come clean with the Senate Finance Committee, and with the American people concerning her strong financial ties to abortionist Tiller."
"Sebelius just can't seem to tell the truth about her connections with Tiller. Her continued deception in this matter makes her unfit to serve in any political capacity, much less as the head of HHS, where she will have the ability to influence abortion policy," said Newman. "People want honesty and transparency in government, and Sebelius has proven that they will never get that from her."
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Sebelius Caught Underreporting Campaign Contributions from Notorious Abortionist: HHS Nomination May be in Jeopardy http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041417.html
Senate Committee Silent on Sebelius Abortion Ties as Full Senate Vote is Delayed http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040313.html
See all +Ponderings+ posts on Ms. Sebelius HERE. UPDATE: Sebelius approved by Senate. Read HERE.
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President Obama’s appointment of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for Health and Human Services Secretary is rock solid proof our new president has no concern for the health of Americans. Rather, Obama’s modus operandi has and will continue to be full-scale attack on the personhood of the weak, disabled and preborn.
Kathleen Sebelius, Obama’s pick to lead the nation’s chief agency for health care, has made no secret of her radical support for the abortion movement. Indeed she has praised, defended and treated to dinner at the governor’s mansion the notorious Dr. George Tiller – set to stand trial for performing illegal late term abortions. [read here about his recent acquittal]
Sebelius, an alleged Catholic, has been repeatedly rebuked by her archbishop for her pro-abortion work. In fact Archbishop Joseph Naumann has asked Sebelius not to receive Holy Communion in his archdiocese for her flagrant support for the intrinsic evil of abortion.
Appointing Gov. Sebelius to HHS Secretary is like appointing Dr. Jack Kevorkian as Surgeon General. Kathleen Sebelius poses a huge threat to the health and well-being of every single American, particularly those marginalized by the culture of death.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God, our Father in Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son , Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
*Sign a petition here and read more about Sibelius' record on abortion here. Contact your senators here. Find +Ponderings+ blog entry, "Bleeding Kansas" here. Take action NOW.
Good News! We just learned that a courageous Republican Senator has stepped up to block Kathleen Sebelius’ nomination from being voted on before the Easter Recess, which begins tomorrow. This Senator has now given us more time to build support to oppose Kathleen Sebelius. Thanks to all who made calls to your Senators today! Now we must use this time to continue to educate Senators about Governor Sebelius’ extreme abortion record.
