MORLINO AND OBAMA -- DISAPPOINTED

As Catholics and as supporters of President Obama, we are disappointed in our leaders over the issue of contraception in health care plans offered by parachurch organizations. Contrary to the advice given to him by many of his Catholic supporters, the President allowed the Department of Health and Services to only grant an exemption to the Church herself and not to organizations independent of the Church but who have a Catholic identity such as universities and hospitals. We think this is a mistake and urge the President to reconsider. We also urge our Bishops to use the judicial and legislative process to reverse this rule.

We are also disappointed in one of our bishops, the Most Rev. Robert Morlino of Madison (WI). The State of Wisconsin passed a similar mandate several years ago, but with some exceptions. While Bishop Morlino rightful protested the Wisconsin law, once it was passed, he looked at his options to provide health care to employees with or without contraception. He found it would cost him more money to exclude contraception and therefore took the path of fiscal conservatism rather than Catholic doctrine. 

Actions like this undercut the efforts of lay Catholics to protest the HHS mandate. Morlino did not even make an appeal to the lay faithful of Madison to help cover the higher costs (this was before so many of the Catholics of Madison who are public employees lost pay, benefits and bargaining rights under Governor Walker).

It is our hope that both President Obama and Bishop Morlino would move to a place where they do not disappoint us.

CATHOLICS FAVOR OBAMA

In a new poll by the Public Religion Research Institute, Catholics favor Barack Obama over either Mitt Romney or New Gingrich.  In a match up between Romeny and Obama, 48% of Catholics favored the President and only 40% for Romney.  Obama did even better among Catholics if Gingrich were the GOP candidae.  This continues the strong support Obama received from Catholics in the 2008 Presidential race.  Protestants were less inclined to support the President, with mainline Protestants closely divided, 41% for Obama and 43% for Romney.  Evangelical Protestants favor Romney over Obama 60% to 22%.  Members of African American denominations, Jews and others favored the President by strong margins.

PRESIDENT AT NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

"When I talk about making sure insurance companies aren't discriminating against those would are already sick, or making sure that unscrupulous lenders are not taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us. I do so because I genuinely believe that it will make the economy stronger for everybody, but I also do it because I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years. And I believe in God's command to love thy neighbor as thyself."

"When I talk about shared responsibility, it's because I genuinely believe that in a time when many folks are struggling and at a time when we have enormous deficits, it's hard for me to ask seniors on fixed income or young people with student loans or middle class families who can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone. I think to myself, if I'm willing to give something up as somebody who's been extraordinarily blessed and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that's going to make economic sense. But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus' teaching that for 'unto whom much is given, much shall be required.' It mirrors the Islamic belief that those who have been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others or the Jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration for others."

"When I talk about giving every American a fair shot ... it makes economic sense. But part of that belief comes from my faith and the idea that I am my brother's keeper and I am my sister's keeper. As a country, we rise and fall together."

"It is our hope that people of good will can pursue their values and common ground and the common good as best they know how, with respect for each other. And I have to say that sometimes we talk about respect, but we don't act with respect towards each other during the course of these debates"

Presentation by Catholic Activist for Racial Justice on Feb. 11th

“I am here because I am a Negro, a nun, a Catholic, and because I want to bear witness.” – Sr. Mary Antona Ebo, FSM, on why she marched in Selma

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a living legend! Sr. Mary Antona Ebo marched from Selma to Montgomery with Dr. King in 1965.  On Saturday, February 11th, please join Catholic supporters of racial justice and others for afternoon where Sr. Mary Antona Ebo, FSM will share her experience of the Civil Rights Movement and Catholic Social Justice Teaching. The afternoon will begin at 2:00pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and will be followed by the Vigil Mass at 4:30pm. This event is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington Office of Black Catholics and the 4th Degree Knights of St. Peter Claver Ladies of Grace Sr. Mary Antona Ebo Chapter #47.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church is at 1600 Morris Road, SE, Washington, DC.  For more information contact, Deacon Al Turner at turnera@adw.org

CONSERVATIVE OK WITH ABORTION WHEN CAUSED BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY

CATHOLICS UNITED PRESS RELEASE:

Rep. Bill Johnson Attends Pro-life Rally Then Attacks Protections for Unborn Children
Posted January 24, 2012

Catholics United calls on Ohio Congressman to recognize the need to protect all unborn human life from Mercury poison

Washington DC – Yesterday Rep. Bill Johnson attended the annual March for Life and gave a speech in support of the need to protect prenatal human life. Only a few hours later, he then took the floor of the United States House of Representatives and railed against new public health standards that will specifically protect unborn babies and infants from Mercury poisoning. Mercury is a heavy metal that severely harms the brain development of children. Coal burning power plants are responsible for the majority of all Mercury pollution in the United States. In response to Rep. Bill Johnson's actions, Catholics United executive director, James Salt, issued the following statement:

“The dictionary states that a hypocrite is a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs. Yesterday Bill Johnson demonstrated just what this looks like. If Bill Johnson were serious about defending the lives of the unborn, he shouldn't attack the public health standards specifically designed to protect unborn babies from Mercury and heavy metal poisoning.”

For more information about Rep. Johnson's actions yesterday, visit: http://politicalcorrection.org/blog/201201230004

For more information about the new public health standards that will protect unborn babies from Mercury poisoning, visit:http://www.epa.gov/hg

PRESIDENT OBAMA HONORS CATHOLIC STUDENT

Archbishop Carroll High School Student Thrilled To Be Honored at the White House

On January 25, Bertha Castaneda was honored at a White House reception by President Barack Obama and received a private tour of the White House before the ceremony.

The White House Champions of Change program honors citizens across the country who are using projects and initiatives to move their communities forward. The honorees have each taken great strides to improve the lives of others through charitable work, faith and advocacy.

The child of hard-working Salvadoran immigrants, Bertha Castaneda attended Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School prior to attending Archbishop Carroll High School in northeast Washington, a Catholic high school of the Archdiocese of Washington. Asked what she was most looking forward to about the White House, she said she was most excited about meeting President Obama. She mentioned that all of her classmates at her Catholic school really appreciate President Obama and that they wanted her to convey their best wishes to hi.

President Obama recognized Bertha as an example of the hardworking students of Archbishop Carroll. She tutors as part of the National Honor Society and serves as a peer minister, seeking out students who are struggling with the social and spiritual crises of adolescence and counseling them. In addition, she, coaches younger students as part of the Augustine Scholars and started her own day camp when she was in 10th grade, recruiting neighborhood children to participate. On top of all of her extracurricular activities, Bertha has maintained a 4.07 GPA and like many immigrant students, Bertha serves as her family’s primary translator, handling bureaucratic responsibilities for her family that other teens don’t have to contend with.

Archbishop Carroll High School serves minority students with limited financial means and provides them an excellent Catholic education.

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