Good Samaritan
New federal guidelines are so narrow that Jesus himself would not qualify for the Department of Health and Human Services “religious employer exemption,” says Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. Neither would the Good Samaritan.
The HHS rules has so many rules that “it protects almost no one, said DiNarto, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Both would be disqualified because they had a record of “helping people who did not share their view of God,” notes Jeremy Kryn of LifeSiteNews, a Christian advocacy website.
DiNardo was citing the HHS requirement that goes into effect in 2012 requiring all insurance programs nationwide to cover all forms of contraception — including aborion-inducing drugs and sterilization as “preventive services for women.”
Under the mandate only faith-based institutions that serve members of the same faith would be able to claim an exemption, thereby excluding any religious organizations that offer their services to the general public regardly of their religious affilication — or lack thereof.
The cardinal accused the HHS of “a distorted view of sexuality and a disdain for the role of religion,” during the USCCB’s 40th annual “Respect Life Month” observed during October, noted Kryn:
“The decision [by HHS] is wrong on many levels,” the cardinal said. “Preventive services are aimed at preventing diseases (e.g., by vaccinations) or detecting them early to aid prompt treatment (e.g., screening for diabetes or cancer). But pregnancy is not a disease…. Mandating such coverage shows neither respect for women’s health or freedom, nor respect for the consciences of those who do not want to take part in such problematic initiatives,” he said.
The cardinal blasted the Obama administration for their “misguided efforts to foster false values among our youth, to silence the voice of moral truth in the public domain, and to deprive believers of their constitutionally-protected right to live according to their religious convictions.”
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posted September 30, 2011 at 4:56 pm
The whole point to the parable is that even the Good Samaritan would not qualify. That is why the story stung! It was not a gentle, soothing word of advice – it was a condemnation of exclusion and the sense of privilege that came with being the dominant religion. This is a lesson we NEED to learn in America today!
posted October 2, 2011 at 7:47 am
Of course allah is religious. Nothing like promoting killing, hatred, jihad, and that heaven is a (w….) house with 72 virgins waiting for this trash. This is religion??
posted October 2, 2011 at 7:57 am
Need to mention about those 72 virgins…. they are really 72 little Catholic nuns with big baseball bats. Hurry up, jihadists!
posted October 2, 2011 at 8:05 am
I feel sorry for the Dept. of Health if they discredit Jesus for His way of curing health problems. THEY ARE DEAD WRONG!!!!!!!!!! Maybe they are non-believers! I know for a fact that if it had not been for Jesus’ healing, I wouldn’t be able to live through each day. I am disabled and cannot work and I depend upon Jesus just to get me through each day. The government agencies should do the same.
posted October 2, 2011 at 12:01 pm
I think there are members of the senate to review bills proposed by the presidency. If any individual has any issue with a proposed bill, the people concerned should have made their opinions known in advance.
Besides, the whole argument is not clear, a religious organization is bound to offer protection to all that come to it, that was the essence of Jesus’ teachings in the Bible.
As an advanced democracy and economy, the people tend to shy from their responsibilities of contributing to the robustness of any bill sent to the senate or other legislative arm in the US!
posted October 2, 2011 at 1:38 pm
This is another example of PC. Our elected officials don’t want to be stamped as racists. Neither do they want to labeled as having any stand on any important issue. This might offend the wrong folks so as to not get their votes. I believe the Bible states what is to happen to folks that are ashamed of the Lord.
posted October 4, 2011 at 12:00 pm
I don’t think Jesus would worry about not being “religious enough.” The bishops may not be aware that Americans of other persuasions (or even Catholics) don’t think bishops infallible but disagree with them in good conscience.