"Is It Really a Violation of Religious Liberty?/" by John Chuchman/Response to U.S. Catholic Bishops "Religious Freedom:" Campaign

Is it really a violation of religious liberty

 when Catholic institutions,

which take millions of government, taxpayer dollars,

refuse to follow government policies? 

 Is the government denying these institutions their religious liberty

by requiring them to treat all citizens, including their employees, equally?  

 

Or, are these institutions denying their employees their civil rights?

 

        If religious institutions take no money from government sources,

 then these institutions can limit their benefits package for employees

however they want when they employ members of their faith.

 

If they do take money from the government,

then they are required to follow the stipulations

that accompany that money.  

The government must represent and respect the rights of all citizens

and follow the rulings of our judicial system. 

 If some of those rulings are considered unjust or immoral,

appeals are available through our judicial system.  

Or, pass a new law.

 

The USA is not, and never was, a Christian nation.  

The purpose, mission, and parameters of a country

are contained in its constitution,

and our constitution does not establish a Christian nation.  

In fact, the first amendment distinctly and deliberately insists that

 “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...” 

 Our founding fathers had enough of European “Christendom”,

the marriage of Church and State.

They wanted nothing to do with it.  

Some Muslim nations are trying it again today

with predictable negative results.

 

 In terms of contraceptive measures,

there is no civil law against their use,

and according to all polls,

most people in the country use, have used, or will use

some form of artificial contraceptive. 

The Church can condemn that usage,

exhort its members not to use them,

even reject users as members

but they can’t force or expect the government

 to enforce their beliefs. 

 

 The government must follow the constitution

and the laws of the land. 

 If we don’t like a law,

 then we can try to persuade people to change it.  

But we cannot expect the government NOT to apply the law,

or condemn them when they do enforce it.

 

·        Specifically, the Bishops have lost the battle against
contraceptive
use and abortion.  
They can continue appealing to individual consciences but the
 government must follow the constitution and law of the land.

 

·        How is it a violation of religious liberty

 when the government requires an institution

which hires from the general population,

 serves the general public,

and uses public funds to follow the laws of the country

and apply benefits equally to all its employees?