Fr. Barron on the HHS Debacle

Fr. Robert Barron -- the creator of the stunning new DVD series Catholicism -- is perhaps the most articulate voice in Catholic media today. His take on the Obama Administration's tyrannical declarations is perhaps the best I've heard yet. To my knowledge he has done three videos on the topic, each worth watching, but the best of which I think is the second.

For additional commentary from Fr. Barron please visit his wonderful website at www.wordonfire.org.

Pro-life Logic from a Politician?

This terrific speech from Florida Senator Marco Rubio is the best pro-life speech I've ever heard a politician give. Enjoy!

A Conversation with the Senior Senator from Wisconsin

Not too surprisingly, longtime Wisconsin Senator, Herb Kohl, was not overly receptive to my request that he defend religious freedom and stand up to HHS and the Obama Administration. Below is my response to Senator Kohl.

Dear Senator Kohl,

Thank you very much for writing back to me. I realize that you are a very busy man and the attention that you pay to your constituency does you credit!

It is clear from your letter that you consider contraception a right and an important piece of achieving justice in health care throughout the country. As you know there are many Americans, normal Americans -- not radicals as the media would seek to portray us -- that believe contraception to be morally illicit and emotionally, spiritually and physically detrimental to the women and men that use it.

Of course, one side of the coin is the very important relationship between patient and physician and the privacy this relationship deserves which you rightly mention; but the other side surely merits some part of the discussion as well, viz. the employer being commanded on pain of un-payable fines to supply contraception and sterilization against their conscience. This demand is indeed most reprehensible.

Furthermore, many types of contraception are abortifacient. And, as you noted, abortion is not something that even the Obama administration wants to avoid touching. Nevertheless, in coercing institutions to provide abortifacient contraception the government has done just that.

Finally, citing the fact that the government has given religious institutions a year to comply with this executive edict before they begin being penalized is, if you will excuse me, an unbecoming slap in the face to the Christians and others that seek the freedom to express and live their faith. Might I remind you that our Constitution's Bill of Rights guarantees this freedom. It doesn't matter if the government gives the Catholic Church a day, a month, or a year to decide how best to violate her conscience. Unlike other institutions, her teaching is not fickle and will not bow to the fashions of the times.

Please, senator, as you conclude your long and hard-fought career in our nation's highest governing body, consider advocating for religious freedom. Our culture is at a tipping point and all friends of freedom must shine in this desperate hour.

God bless,

Chris Hurtubise

Legislative Defense of Religious Freedom and Human Dignity

Our state government is working on righting past wrongs by amending a 2010 law, which requires school districts across the state to teach sexual education in 'comprehensive' fashion--which is to say according to current popular culture standards. As a limited government conservative such authoritative legislating is repugnant, but as a Catholic it is utterly unacceptable. A handful of progressive elites in Madison think they know better than the Catholic Church about the truth of the human person? Fine. But telling us what to teach and writing it into law? No way.

I sent this letter to my representatives, whom I trust will stand with freedom and the dignity of the person on this issue. Please contact your representatives as well!

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Dear Senator Harsdorf, Representative Severson and staff,

I write to you with a significant request as a concerned constituent:

In 2010, Wisconsin enacted the “Healthy Youth Act” (HYA), which requires that if a school district chooses to provide pupils with human growth and development instruction it must instruct them using “comprehensive sex education.”  This law is both unconstitutional and tyrannical.

Since the law’s enactment, parents and advocates have been working to reform the HYA, in order to restore local control and parental involvement, while retaining the best aspects of current law.  Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) is currently circulating a bill draft for co-sponsorship (LRB-2088/P3), dubbed the “Strong Communities…Healthy Kids Act” (SCHKA).

As a Catholic, I cannot in good conscious support a government that would tell my Church that it (the government) knows the truth about sexuality and my church does not. Further as a law, the government would use the force of law to make my church's schools teach against its ancient and consistently held beliefs about the human person. If progressive elites want to think they can rewrite the nature of the person and our sexuality, I pity them. But, if they are bent on writing their flawed and destructive vision into law, I will resist them and I beg that as our senator you do the same!

I heartily commend to you that, in the name of freedom and the dignity of the human person, you support Senator Lazich's drafted bill to ensure that the wrongs written into law last year be amended!

Thank you for your attention in this matter,

Chris and Stephanie Hurtubise
Balsam Lake, WI