Friday, November 22, 2013

"Pittsburgh Diocese Wins Delay Against Affordable Care Act"

"A federal judge in western Pennsylvania says Catholic groups don’t immediately have to comply with mandates in the federal health care overhaul law."
The Diocese is challenging its participation in the health care program because it would be required to provide its employees with contraceptives.

Churches are exempt from the mandate, but charitable organizations, including Pittsburgh Catholic Charities, were not.

Bishop Zubik told the court this is a problem because, “the practice of charity has to reflect the teaching of the church.”
CBS Pittsburgh

9 comments:

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

(1) The link wouldn't work for me.

(2) "Bishop Zubik told the court this is a problem because, “the practice of charity has to reflect the teaching of the church."

So you really couldn't blame anyone for thinking the church is interested in charity largely as a form of bribery.

test said...

In other Obamacare news:

In a shock to the system, the older staff in my office (folks over 59) have now found out their personal health insurance costs (even with the government contribution) have gone up 3-4 times what they were paying before,” Minh Ta, chief of staff to Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), wrote to fellow Democratic chiefs of staff in an email message obtained by POLITICO. “Simply unacceptable.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/older-capitol-hill-aides-obamacare-affordable-care-act-prices-health-insurance-100226.html#ixzz2lO7syF00

The hits just keep coming. I love the unacceptable part. Non-government employees were expected to suck up and deal with it, but government employees affected? No F-ing way!

virgil xenophon said...

OT, but iirc Freeman Hunt used to be listed as a contributor but I notice she is now de-listed and seldom comments any more. Has she returned to the dark-side?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The link works from my phone. I can not check it until the afternoon.

Trooper York said...

It is not bribery my friend. But you should not ask religious people to violate their churches teachings in order to do charitable work.

Would you force a Muslim homeless shelter to serve ham sandwiches?

Would you force an Amish Meal on Wheels to use a car instead of a horse and buggy?

Would you force a black preacher like this dude in Atlanta on Bravo to drive a Prius instead of the Bentley that he drives now?

I think not.

Fr Martin Fox said...

The mindset of those who defend Mr. Obama's mandate to force people to help provide contraceptives, and others who attack the Catholic Church and others for opposing it, is amazing.

One option is available: the institutions that object to being forced to facilitate contraception use (let alone sterilization and abortion) can simply stop doing the charitable work. Now, this is very distasteful to the people actually doing the charitable work--which is what the gov't and its cheerleaders are counting on.

But really, will the Left move next to the position that charities must do these things? If that isn't tyranny, what is?

But if not, then please explain why it's in the public interest for the government to drive various religiously motivated charities, educational institutions, hospitals and so forth out of existence?

For example, the Little Sisters of the Poor, who provide care for indigent elderly. How does it advance the public good if they say, "see ya"--and pack their bags for other places in the world where they will be welcomed, without these strings?

The devotion some people have to Holy Contraception, their Savior, is astonishing.

Trooper York said...

Forgive them Father for they know what they do but they are evil and need to be called to account.

Forgive but don't excuse or submit.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

you should not ask religious people to violate their churches teachings in order to do charitable work.

Exactly. Each charitable organization operates and dispenses charity according to its own sense of morality, scruples and principles.

If people object to that.....no one is forcing you to accept the charitable actions of that group. If people object to the Catholic Church's stance on birth control and abortion, go find another charity to get help from. If you don't want to hear a religious speech at the Salvation Army's charitable food giving.....go eat somewhere else.

Charity is freely given. It cannot be coerced. Charity is also freely accepted and cannot be demanded. To do either forced or demanded is theft or extortion.

edutcher said...

This is why the Lefties nuked cloture, they want to pack the courts with Lefty judges that will uphold Choomcare.

This could be fun.