Bishop Thomas John Paprocki wrote a letter to all Catholics in the Diocese of Springfield that was distributed in parish bulletins yesterday. In the letter, which follows his latest Catholic Times column, Bishop Paprocki urges parishioners to visit the USCCB's website to learn about the Health and Human Services departments ruling that would require almost all employers, regardless of religious beliefs, to offer in their health coverage sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception.
The text of Bishop Paprocki's letter is below.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those" services" in the health policies they write and almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.
In so ruling, the Administration of President Barack Obama has disregarded the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our nation's first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. As a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics and other people of faith will be compelled either to violate our consciences or to drop employees' health coverage (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration's sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.
We cannot-we will not-comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. In generations past, the Church has been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.
This action by our federal government comes on the heels of our state government having forced Catholic Charities out of foster care and adoption services because of our religious beliefs. Therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration's decision.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki
Bishop of Springfield in Illinois
