As the spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of New York, Cardinal Dolan delivered an important and moving 45-minute speech before a crowded auditorium of 1,000 people.
The crowd gathered to hear his words on an issue that represents an existential threat to the Catholic Church in the US.
Dolan explained that the government is engaged in "an unwarranted, unprecedented radical intrusion."
The threat stems from the recent edict issued by President Obama demanding that religious-affiliated institutions including hospitals and universities provide free contraceptive coverage to employees in health plans. Included in that package are contraception, abortion inducing drugs and sterilization.
The Church has concluded, in consensus with medical research, that these practices do not contribute to the "reproductive health" of women. They most certainly do not contribute to the well being of children who are killed in the womb via abortion inducing drugs and procured abortion.
Dolan explained that the government is engaged in "an unwarranted, unprecedented radical intrusion."
The threat stems from the recent edict issued by President Obama demanding that religious-affiliated institutions including hospitals and universities provide free contraceptive coverage to employees in health plans. Included in that package are contraception, abortion inducing drugs and sterilization.
The Church has concluded, in consensus with medical research, that these practices do not contribute to the "reproductive health" of women. They most certainly do not contribute to the well being of children who are killed in the womb via abortion inducing drugs and procured abortion.
Concluding thus, the Church teaches that these "services" masquerading as health benefits are dangerous, intrinsically evil, and cannot be participated in by any Church related institution, period.
In addition to the threat this program poses to individual health, mandating that religious institutions participate in these activities, even if only financially, is a direct threat to the freedom of religion, which is a fundamental human right revealed in the natural Law and codified in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
It is also universally agreed that Americans are to be guaranteed freedom of conscience, but the details of the current Obama mandate would compel the faithful to violate their conscience by becoming a participant in activities that are dangerous and morally wrong.
The church has vowed to resist rather than participate in a crime of great moral turpitude.
President Obama maintained that churches could be exempt from the requirement. However, the narrow exemption did not cover the massive network of church run and affiliated outreaches to the poor and the needy.
The alleged "compromise" he then said he would offer never materialized when the Edict was published. In addition any such "compromise" fails to take into account that insurers would still have to pay for the coverage and those cost will be passed on.
Money is fungible.
In addition to the threat this program poses to individual health, mandating that religious institutions participate in these activities, even if only financially, is a direct threat to the freedom of religion, which is a fundamental human right revealed in the natural Law and codified in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
It is also universally agreed that Americans are to be guaranteed freedom of conscience, but the details of the current Obama mandate would compel the faithful to violate their conscience by becoming a participant in activities that are dangerous and morally wrong.
The church has vowed to resist rather than participate in a crime of great moral turpitude.
President Obama maintained that churches could be exempt from the requirement. However, the narrow exemption did not cover the massive network of church run and affiliated outreaches to the poor and the needy.
The alleged "compromise" he then said he would offer never materialized when the Edict was published. In addition any such "compromise" fails to take into account that insurers would still have to pay for the coverage and those cost will be passed on.
Money is fungible.
The Church cannot participate in immorality, even indirectly.
At present, the Obama administration is on a legal collision course with the Catholic Church over this issue.
All of the current Republican presidential hopefuls have condemned the Obama mandate and promised to repeal it.