Orthodox Christians Are Thankful for Catholic Bishops' Defense of Religious Liberty

By Chris Banescu, Esq.
3/4/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Orthodox Christians recognize the importance and significance of the battle before us.

Orthodox Christians are grateful for the vocal and passionate public stance of Catholic Bishops and leaders who categorically oppose Obama's HHS healthcare mandate. Your courage in defending our constitutionally protected religious liberty is making us stronger. Your public and uncompromising witness is giving us hope.

Cardinal Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah

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LOS ANGELES,CA. (Catholic Online) - Orthodox Christians are thankful and grateful for the vocal and passionate public stance of Catholic Bishops and Catholic leaders who categorically oppose Obama's HHS healthcare mandate. Your courage in defending our constitutionally protected religious liberty is making us stronger. Your public and uncompromising witness to Christian principles and your passionate advocacy in protecting the life of the unborn is giving us hope.

We embrace and support you as brothers in Christ and co-workers for righteousness. As Orthodox Metropolitan Jonah stood side-by-side with Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan in praying together at this year's March for Life , we stand in solidarity with you in demanding the repeal of the HHS mandate and in defense of the religious liberty of all Americans.

It's impressive and inspiring to witness the speed and conviction with which Catholic Bishops and other Catholic organizations responded to the new HHS rule and denounced it as unconstitutional and immoral from the start. On the same day the Obama administration made the announcement, January 20, 2012, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a press release declaring it unconscionable and a blatant violation of religious liberty.

"To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable. It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty," powerfully stated then cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the USCCB. In a video message recorded by the archbishop he sharply criticized the White House: "Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."

Cardinal Dolan was not alone in the immediate and unequivocal public condemnation of the HHS mandate. Other Catholic leaders also spoke out against it. "This is nothing less than a direct attack on religion and First Amendment rights," said Franciscan Sister Jane Marie Klein , chairperson of the board at Franciscan Alliance, Inc., a system of 13 Catholic hospitals. "I have hundreds of employees who will be upset and confused by this edict." Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society, a Catholic university watchdog group, denounced the "cult of choice" agenda of the Obama administration. "The White House has sold the First Amendment for a few pennies of political support from the ACLU and the abortion lobby," he said.

More Catholic Bishops joined the chorus of opposition very quickly. Addressing the opening Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the evening of January 22, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, excoriated the HHS rule. "Never before in our US History has the Federal Government forced citizens to directly purchase what violates our beliefs. At issue here as our President of the Conference stated it this past Friday, is the survival of a cornerstone constitutionally protected freedom that ensures respect for conscience and religious liberty," proclaimed Cardinal DiNardo.

By January 25, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Arizona, publicly denounced the "severe assault on religious liberty" and bravely asked Christians in his dioceses to consider civil disobedience rather than violate the Church's teachings. In his open letter, read aloud in Catholic parishes across the Phoenix diocese, Bishop Olmstead criticized the Obama administration for casting "aside the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation's first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty," and called on the faithful to refuse to comply with the unjust law.

"We cannot - we will not - comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. . Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores ...

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1 - 9 of 9 Comments

ahem
1 year ago
Please do not condemn the Orthodox for some of the failings of its Russian brothers. There is by no means unanimity of opinion in the Russian Church.

American Orthodox Christians are fully in support of their Roman Catholic cousins.
Jason West
1 year ago
To Father Andrew,The Orthodox Church in Mother Russia seeks to destroy Liberalism which could be introduced by certain Christian denominations.The Russian church also seeks to protect Russian Culture by stamping out Protestant Churches.The Church is correct in doing so.
Diane
1 year ago
God bless the Orthodox. I trust their priests and Bishops direct the laity to vote prolife so that action follows and expresses Faith, just like Catholics need to do also.
Theresa H.
1 year ago
Thanks to our Orthodox brethren and all people of "good will" who are joining with our Bishops! Jesus told us not to fear, but to be prepared....Our Bishops are asking for "prayer and fasting" during this, ultimately, "spiritual" battle before us. We must stand firm with our Bishops before the "powers of this world;" we will have to march and must be willing to suffer imprisonment. Thirteen years ago, Pope Benedict wrote of the "gigantic beasts of prey with their power over the media and their technical strength"--We see it--but they will not win the victory.... It will be Jesus, the sacrificed Lamb that conquers! "Happy are those invited to the supper of the Lamb!" But for now, we must "pray constantly" and be always ready to make a defense of the Gospel of Life!
Father Andrew St. John. EOA
1 year ago
i trained and served in the Eastern Church and one thing that always bothered me is that the Church was grateful for their own religious freedom and would praise those who fought for it when it helped them, but in Russia the Church persecutes and wants to ban, imprison and drive from Mother Russian all other religions, Christian and otherwise! especially though... Christian denominations of all sorts, all of them, Baptists, Catholics Evangelicals, Pentecostals, all of them! how sad! have we learned nothing about Christian love from Jesus whom we claim to know and follow people??? Romans 5:5 tells us that the love of God has been shed into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom God has given unto us! so let's see the proof of that! ty --Father Andrew St. John, EOA, Andrew@surf1.ws
ninek
1 year ago
I love our Orthodox brothers and sisters. Many are oppressed in areas around the world where Christianity is not tolerated. It is an honor to stand beside our Orthodox brethren at the Walks for Life. May God bless all of you.
Barbara
1 year ago
I am thankful the bishops have spoken up for our constitutional rights and for defending our right to be both Catholic and constitutionally good good citizens.
I wish they had taken this stand years ago. If they had not waited perhaps we would not now have our backs to the wall.
Had they defend the theology of the church against the public figures who professed to be catholic while at the same time bad mouthing the morals of the Catholic Church; there would not be so many fallen away Catholics.
People will follow the strong but they will turn away from the weak leaders.
The strongest Catholic leader from the past, who comes to mind is Archbishop Sheen. He was admired for his unwavering Catholicism.
Uche Antonio
1 year ago
Obama has destroyed the reverred ,ucore American values.He is a detroyer that came in the guise of a saviour. It's a pity.May God guide the States to a better change..
abey
1 year ago
Like the Catholic, the holy rites of the Orthodox are meaningful, in a commonness to the Original Belief & Apostolic Faith, with many a Saints to their credit. On the overall a Christian Church founded by Christ in the beginnings. The very word 'Orthodox" represent "non compromises" & on this extend the Catholic hand to the brotherhood in Christ, in the mutuality, to the greater coming of HIS kingdom on Earth, in the name of The Father, Son & Holy Spirit, in the intersession of Mother Mary, The Apostles & Saints.

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