\tSome respond thus to the government\u2019s mandate that employers pay for health insurance that covers contraception, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs.<\/p>\n
\tThe Health and Human Services Department mandate is part of the 2010 health care reform law, called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that this law is an acceptable exercise of Congress\u2019 taxing powers.<\/p>\n
\tBut Catholics are not saying that paying for contraception is bad for Catholics; they\u2019re saying it\u2019s bad for society, according to Christopher Klofft, assistant professor of theology at Assumption College.<\/p>\n
\tHe cautioned against getting into arguments about this issue, urged charity if one does, and offered reasons for hope.<\/p>\n
\tHe spoke about \u201cWhat it means to be Catholic and American\u201d at the diocese\u2019s closing of the Fortnight for Freedom Monday at St. Stephen\u2019s Church. Bishop McManus and several priests celebrated Mass there, assisted by several deacons.<\/p>\n
\tThe June 21-July 4 Fortnight was a campaign supporting religious liberty, which the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called for, partly in response to the HHS mandate that would force Catholic agencies to pay for procedures and drugs they oppose. Limits on Church service to immigrants is another concern.<\/p>\n
\tIn his homily Bishop McManus recalled Pope John Paul II warning about threats to religious liberty in the United States 20 years ago. Improper responses are recoiling in fear or reacting in anger, he said. Prayer is the ultimate source of strength; with God, all is possible.<\/p>\n
\tSt. Paul, the diocese\u2019s patron, said everything works for good for those who love God and urged Christians to live according to what they\u2019ve learned, the bishop said. He said Catholics have learned from their faith that everyone is made in God\u2019s image, and civil authority has no ability to diminish their freedom.<\/p>\n
\tFaith without works is dead, Bishop McManus said. Christians are called to serve, especially the most vulnerable \u2013 the unborn, the immigrant, the poor and unemployed \u2013 and will be judged on this.<\/p>\n
\tHe said Catholics have stood together to counter threats to their freedom, and this is not about one political party, but about the moral fabric of society.<\/p>\n
\tRisking one person\u2019s freedom risks everyone\u2019s freedom, he said. He said they want to be able to say America is a place where there is \u201cliberty and justice for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cAll persons have a right to basic health care,\u201d Professor Klofft said in his talk. But the issue here is freedom of conscience.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWhat we stand up for is the Truth,\u201d the way the world really is, he said.<\/p>\n
\tHe used ideas from \u201cThe Sources of Christian Ethics,\u201d by Servais Pinckaers.<\/p>\n
\tSome might say: \u201cI am free to do whatever I want to do,\u201d but that is \u201ca freedom of indifference\u201d that doesn\u2019t care about others or oneself, Professor Klofft said. In contrast, Pinckaers writes about \u201cthe freedom for excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cYou can either accept God\u2019s will for your life, or you can not accept God\u2019s will for your life,\u201d Professor Klofft said. \u201cAre we faithful to the call\u201d to relationship with God?<\/p>\n
\tOne\u2019s choices in life should work toward answering the question: \u201cWhat is it I am called to do to be a human being? \u2026 When we sin we choose not to live the way God has called us to live. It\u2019s like sitting on a tree branch and sawing off the branch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tProfessor Klofft, using Pinckaers, spoke of forming a character that continues to make good decisions, likening this to learning to play a musical instrument.<\/p>\n
\tAt first, one might practice because one\u2019s parents insist on it. Later, one might be encouraged to continue because of praise. Later, one might play for the beauty of the music. So too, people might do right to avoid punishment, reach a point where they are praised for being responsible, and later act as they do because \u201cif I was to not do this, I would not be who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cIn Catholic moral theology your conscience must be followed,\u201d Professor Klofft said, referring to Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1776-1802. \u201cOur conscience is the very life of the Spirit\u201d indwelling in us.<\/p>\n
\tHow does one develop this?<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWe make the conscious, willed decision to make good choices.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cMan has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions,\u201d the catechism says in section 1782. \u201cHe must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tProfessor Klofft spoke of people saying, \u201cThe Church nowadays is so obsessed with authority.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tHis response?<\/p>\n
\t\u201cOur shepherds are to help us be the best human beings we can be. Thank God I don\u2019t have to figure all this out myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tListeners applauded.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cCan a Catholic disagree with Church teaching?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cNo!\u201d responded a listener.<\/p>\n
\tPeople choose to be American first and \u201cfit our Catholic beliefs\u201d into that, Professor Klofft said. But how can one be a good American without a relationship with God, which makes people good human beings, who are needed to form a good state. He said people must stand for truth, human rights and freedom for excellence.<\/p>\n
\tHe said he believes there is reason for confidence and spoke of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which may be used to challenge the mandate. People must have conversations about this, he said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThis is not about winning arguments,\u201d however, he said. \u201cDon\u2019t ever start a conversation over the internet and expect it to reach a fruitful\u201d conclusion.<\/p>\n
\tHe suggested asking something like, \u201cWhy are you opposed to me having my conscience protected?\u201d Catholics tend to go on the defensive, he said, and urged, \u201cControl the conversation if you\u2019re going to have the conversation.\u201d He also offered Jesus\u2019 advice: \u201cDo not cast your pearls before swine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cAlways remember to conduct yourselves with charity,\u201d Professor Klofft urged, saying people will win more hearts with love than with \u201cintellectual bullying.\u201d Listeners applauded.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cGod has already won; it was won on the cross,\u201d he said, and urged listeners to show others the reason for their hope.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cI like his reasonable thinking,\u201d John Martin, of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, said of Professor Klofft.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cChris\u2019 advice was just so good,\u201d said Herman Millet, also from St. Luke\u2019s. \u201cRather than be confrontational, we should just ask a question.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cI thought the presentation was very good,\u201d said Frances E. Pike, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the Worcester Diocese. \u201cWe really have to get people out to pray and stand up for what we believe in. The reason we \u2026 take care of the poor is because of our Catholic faith.<\/p>\n
\tAnd we pray every day. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a spiritual ministry. I think that each one of us has a personal responsibility to see their friends and neighbors are getting the care they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tSpeaking about the Supreme Court decision, Rose Thoman said: \u201cI was heart-broken; I cried; I could relate it to Roe v. Wade. I\u2019ve worked in the pro-life movement for 40 years.\u201d A member of St. John, the Guardian of Our Lady Parish in Clinton, she worships at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River.<\/p>\n
\tThe decision will degrade society as \u201cabortion destroyed morality among our young,\u201d and the mandate could lead to killing the elderly, she said.<\/p>\n
\tWhat solution does she see?<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m worried about,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t see it happening under this administration. Our only hope is to replace our president with someone who will overturn the Supreme Court decision. That\u2019s what Romney promised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tSpeaking of President Barack Obama, running for re-election against Mitt Romney, she said, \u201cHe\u2019s holding the life of every person in his hands through this Obamacare,\u201d and people don\u2019t recognize its power.<\/p>\n
\tEditor\u2019s Note: Bishop McManus\u2019 homily from this Mass can be heard and seen on the homepage of the diocesan website, www.worcesterdiocese.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n \tPosted with permission from the Catholic Free Press<\/a>. Official newspaper for the diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts<\/p>\n