From a letter from Colorado’s bishops written to three state lawmakers in reference to a state bill mandating that hospitals make available and to give "emergency contraception" .
"We recognize that there are those who differ in their beliefs regarding the stage at which human life begins and is deserving of recognition and protection. But the state has long recognized and respected the rights of both individual physicians and hospitals to practice medicine that is consistent with their belief regarding the value of human life at all stages from the moment of conception. HB 1042 would erode those protections by mandating that a hospital provide a treatment regardless of the potential effect on a newly formed life.
"If enacted, HB 1042 would have the dubious distinction of being the first law in Colorado to require a Catholic entity to actively violate its own teachings. . . . "
A letter from Colorado’s three highest-ranking Catholics angered a House Democrat on Monday who said she resented "being told how to be a good Catholic."
The letter was read aloud on the House floor by Rep. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs.
Rep. Fran Coleman, a Denver Democrat who said she was raped a few years ago, publicly admonished the Colorado Catholic Conference for its opposition to a bill that would require hospitals to give emergency contraception information to sexual assault victims.
The conference represents Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, Pueblo Bishop Arthur Tafoya and Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan.
"I absolutely resent the Catholic Church preaching to me because I represent people of all faiths," a red-faced Coleman said during debate on the House floor. "I question their ability to continue to be in a tax-exempt status. We don’t need to be preached or read to."
Despite opposition by anti-abortion Republicans, House Bill 1042 won final passage 46-19 and now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. Gov. Bill Owens, who is Catholic, would not comment Monday on his position on the bill. [Source]
It seems that there must be Catholic politician factory out there that is creating boiler-plate Catholic politicians. Whatever they are using to inject into these politician-molds needs to have its formula changed since it seems to be missing common sense and basic catechesis. We have heard these same laughable comments before that displays a total ignorance of the role of Bishops. John Kerry previously spouted the inane line about having to represent multiple faiths. To chastise a bishop for preaching is like chastising a carpenter for using wood to build furniture. To say "we don’t need to be preached to" is to deny that we are sinners and of course we need to be properly preached to.
One thing the article does not mention is that the Church teaches that for those who are raped that measures can be taken to prevent the rapist’s sperm from reaching an egg. Though once an egg is fertilized no attempt must be made that would harm that child. Father Pavone of Priest for Life says something I think is very relevant on this subject. "Rape is wrong because it is a violent act against an innocent person, abortion is wrong because it is a violent act against an innocent person.
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Contraception is really and truly a sacrament for these people.
It’s almost as if they feel they have to implement in legislation the *exact opposite* of what is written in the Catechism in order to “not impose their religion on others” because they “have to represent people of all faiths”.
Of course the only faith they’re representing then is the Church of Satan.
This reminds me of when the Bishop of Sacramento, California publicly instructed the Democrat, pro-abortion, Catholic governor, Gray Davis, to not receive communion. The governor’s office criticized the bishop for “telling the faithful how to practice their faith.” Duh.
I have not yet heard if this same bishop has repeated his instructions to the new Republican, pro-abortion, Catholic governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. If the bishop does not, the bishop might appear partisan to some.
A lawyer friend of mine says this: “When my father was a boy, rape was punishable by the death penalty. At no time was being the son or daughter of a rapist punishable by the death penalty.”
Whatever happened to freedom of religion in this country?
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