• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Think Green 50¢ Recycle May 27, 2012 Volume 86, No. 21 Go Green todayscatholicnews.org Go Digital Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Hats off to the ’’ graduates TTODAYODAYSS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Schools celebrate valedictorians, salutatorians CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES AT NEW SAINT Pages 15-18 Diocese, others, JOSEPH’S HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS file federal lawsuit Fortnight for defending Freedom Current threats to religious liberty religious liberty Page 4 FORT WAYNE — The Diocese of Fort Wayne- South Bend, Catholic Charities of the diocese, Saint Anne Home and Retirement Community, Franciscan Alliance, the University of Saint Francis and Our Sunday Visitor have filed a lawsuit against various ‘Contraceptive government defendants, seeking justice from U.S. District Court (Northern District of Indiana, Fort mandate’ Wayne Division). The University of Notre Dame Twelve things everyone has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court (Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division). should know Forty-three Catholic dioceses, schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other institutions filed Page 5 The school exte- suit in federal court Monday, May 21, at 11 a.m. rior of the new At a news conference held Monday afternoon in Saint Joseph’s the Archbishop Noll Catholic Center in Fort Wayne, High School is Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades said, “(The U.S. bishops) Christian leadership nearing comple- have pursued various avenues to correct the problem tion, above, while of the overarching and overreaching mandate of the Department of Health and Human Services without awards the football litigation. Our efforts with the White House and Serra Club presents honors stadium and with Congress have not succeeded, so now a number track are under of our dioceses, Catholic schools and universities, Page 10 construction. The Catholic health systems and Catholic charitable orga- school will move nizations are pursuing the judicial route.” to the new loca- The defendants named were the U.S. Department tion in the fall. At of Health and Human services (HHS), the U.S. Vouchers, Tax Credit left, interior work Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of on the chapel Labor and their respective secretaries. Scholarships continues. The lawsuit stems from the recently enacted HHS mandate in which religious employers who do not Parents choose Catholic schools qualify for a narrow exemption will be forced to Pages 11-14 provide to their employees abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraceptive products and services at no cost to employees. This mandate presents a clear and present danger to these Catholic entities’ ability to teach and live their faith, and would make them complicit in pro- viding and facilitating products and services contrary to their clearly stated doctrines. The plaintiffs in this case believe the HHS man- date to be clearly unconstitutional and any accom- modations previously made were substandard and unacceptable. “American history and tradition, embodied in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Religious Freedom Restoration Act, protect religious entities from such overbearing and oppres- sive governmental action,” Bishop Rhoades said at the news conference. “Religious freedom, protected in the U.S. Constitution and other laws and statutes, is rooted in the dignity of every human person. It is inherent in our humanity, a God-given right. It is a cornerstone of basic human rights and is necessary for the flourishing of a just society. We are obliged to defend it for ourselves and for others. We are ask- ing in this lawsuit that this right be respected by our PHOTOS BY KEVIN HAGGENJOS government.” Progress, including the sign that boasts “Home of the Indians” in the new Saint Joseph’s This lawsuit is about an unprecedented attack by High School gymnasium is shown above. While progress is made on construction at the new campus, students are celebrating the hallowed halls of the 1441 N. Michigan St. location. HHS, PAGE 3 2 TODAY’ S C ATHOLIC May 27, 2012 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Litigation to defend our Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 PUBLISHER: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades religious liberty EDITOR: Tim Johnson NEWS EDITOR and STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad IN TRUTH Editorial Department AND PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan FREELANCE WRITERS: Lauren Caggiano, CHARITY Michelle Castleman, Karen Clifford, Bonnie Elberson, Denise Fedorow, BY BISHOP KEVIN C. RHOADES Diane Freeby, May Lee Johnson, Sister Margie Lavonis, CSC, Joe Kozinski, Vince LaBarbera and Deb Wagner few weeks ago, while at a meeting in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Department ANational Historic Site. I especially enjoyed BUSINESS MANAGER: Sean McBride sitting in the Ebenezer Baptist Church AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber where Reverend Dr. King served as co- BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol pastor. His recorded sermons were piped [email protected] through the sanctuary there and I listened for quite some time to his stirring words. Advertising Sales He awakened consciences and called upon Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) America to honor its heritage of liberty. In KAY COZAD (260) 456-2824 his famous “Letter from the Birmingham Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades speaks at a special press conference held at the Archbishop Noll Catholic Jeanette Simon (South Bend area) Jail” in 1963, Reverend Dr. King boldly Center in Fort Wayne on May 21 regarding legislation taken for religious liberty. At left is stated that “the goal of America is free- (574) 234-0687 Franciscan Sister Elise Kriss, president of the University of Saint Francis and Sisters of Notre Dame dom.” Sister Loretta Borgerding of Saint Anne Home. Web site: www.todayscatholicnews.org In the face of the unprecedented attack by the federal government on one of our Published weekly except the fourth most cherished freedoms, the freedom to 1 of lawsuit). our institutions to submit to “an intrusive Sunday in June, second and fourth weeks in July and August, the first practice one’s religion without govern- Religious freedom, protected in the U.S. governmental examination of our religious week of September and last week ment interference, I have been inspired by Constitution and other laws and statutes, missions” (cf. #7 in lawsuit). in December by the Diocese of Fort the words of Martin Luther King. It would is rooted in the dignity of every human In our U.S. Bishop’s statement on Wayne-South Bend, 1103 S. Calhoun be easy to sit back and not get involved in person. It is inherent in our humanity, a Religious Liberty, Our First, Most St., P.O. Box 390, Fort Wayne, IN 46801. fighting the government’s attempt to force God-given right. It is a cornerstone of basic Cherished Liberty, we state the follow- Periodicals postage paid at Fort Wayne, us to facilitate and fund services which vio- human rights and is necessary for the flour- ing: Religious liberty is not only about our IN, and additional mailing office. late our religious beliefs. But then I think ishing of a just society. We are obliged to ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray of Dr. King. He did not sit back in the face defend it for ourselves and for others. We the Rosary at home. It is about whether we POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: of racial discrimination and segregation. are asking in this lawsuit that this right be can make our contribution to the common Today’s Catholic, P.O. Box 11169, Fort Instead, he led the civil rights movement in respected by our government. good of all Americans. Can we do the good Wayne, IN 46856-1169 or email: our country. The government has no place defin- works our faith calls us to do, without hav- [email protected]. Along with my brother bishops, I have ing “religious employer” so narrowly that ing to compromise that very same faith? MAIN OFFICE: 915 S. Clinton St., Fort been actively involved in efforts to protect it only includes houses of worship. This Without religious liberty properly under- Wayne, IN 46802. Telephone (260) our religious liberty. We are not sitting reduces the freedom of religion to the free- stood, all Americans suffer, deprived of the 456-2824. Fax: (260) 744-1473. back. We have pursued various avenues to dom of worship. Religious liberty is about essential contribution in education, health BUREAU OFFICE: 1328 Dragoon Trail, correct the problem of the over-reaching witness and action, as well as worship. The care, feeding the hungry, civil rights, and Mishawaka, IN 46544. Telephone (574) US Department of Health and Human HHS exemption excludes most Catholic social services that religious Americans 234-0687. Fax (574) 830-1042. Services without litigation. Our efforts with hospitals, schools, universities, and social make every day, both here at home and the White House and the Congress have service providers. They are “not religious overseas. News deadline is the Monday morning not succeeded. So now, a number of our enough,” according to the U.S. Government This lawsuit protesting the U.S. before publication date. Advertising dioceses, Catholic schools and universities, Mandate, to qualify for the exemption. Our Government Mandate is about defending deadline is nine days before publica- Catholic health systems, and Catholic chari- diocese carries out our mission of service our freedom to do the good works our faith tion date. table organizations are pursuing the judicial through our diocesan offices, parishes calls us to do, without having to compro- route. and schools, and through the work of our mise our beliefs by providing, paying for Today’s Catholic may be reached at : On May 21st, the Diocese of Fort affiliated ministries. All of these institu- and/or facilitating things that violate our Today’s Catholic, P.O.

Load more

  24

Copy Link