On Religious Liberty

     This morning, I had the privilege to attend the 8th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. The theme of this year's gathering was "Religious Liberty: Threatened at Home and Abroad."


     This issue has been a very uncomfortable one for myself. I have been a vocal supporter of our President. I believe, and still think, that he is a decent man who sincerely cares about the plight of our nation's poor and underserved. This personal affinity for President Obama was brought into direct conflict with my religious convictions earlier this year when his Administration decided to launch an unprovoked attack on religious liberty through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate.


     The HHS directive forces all employers, regardless of whether or not their religious beliefs prohibit them, to offer abortifacient drugs, sterilization and all FDA-approved contraceptives. While there is an exception clause to the mandate, it excuses faith-based institutions if and only if they employ/administer to exclusively members of their own faith. As Carl A. Anderson, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus pointed out in his remarks at breakfast today, EVEN JESUS HIMSELF WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR THE EXCEPTION UNDER THE MANDATE!


     In essence, the HHS mandate puts good Catholics in an impossible position. Either they must turn their back on the Church's teachings in order to obey the Government, or they must turn their back on Jesus' call to administer and serve all of our brothers and sisters regardless of their creed. It was my hope that President Obama, upon hearing the outcry of opposition to his Administration's mandate, would order it amended. Sadly, the President has supported the mandate as it stands. As such, I can no longer in good conscience stand in support of him as our Chief Executive.


    As a Knight of Columbus and a baptized Catholic, I have been charged with the duty to defend the Church to the best of my ability. Sadly, our Government is acting much like the Sanhedrin in today's Mass reading from the Acts of the Apostles. They gave strict orders to the Apostles to stop teaching in that [Jesus'] name. We are called to respond as Peter and the others did, saying courageously with conviction We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:27-33)


     The President, not being Catholic himself, should not be expected to support all the teachings and tenets of our faith. Nevertheless, he ought not make it impossible for a Catholic to simultaneously respect both natural and national law. A fellow Brother Knight put it nicely this morning when he said to me that the President does not need to stand with Catholics, but he shouldn't stand against Catholics.


     I do not believe it is productive to, as some people have, demonize our President. I will continue to pray for him, along with all elected and appointed government officials, and ask that God grant them the clarity and courage to allow the United States to be a land where the Freedom of Religion flourishes once more.