Bishops plan aggressive expansion of birth-control battle

[cbayer]

I guess they are really out of touch on how American women feel about this issue (shocked!). They do this at their peril, imo.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/14/us-usa-contraception-catholics-idUSTRE81D21920120214

By Stephanie Simon

Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:23pm EST

(Reuters) - Catholic bishops, energized by a battle over contraception funding, are planning an aggressive campaign to rally Americans against a long list of government measures which they say intrude on religious liberty.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops plans to work with other religious groups, including evangelical Christians, on an election-year public relations campaign that may include TV and radio ads, social media marketing and a push for pastors and priests to raise the subject from the pulpit.

"We want to make it something that will get peoples' attention," said Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn.

The bishops spent the past few weeks pressing President Barack Obama to exempt religious employers from a federal mandate that all health insurance plans offer free birth control.

more at link

[monmouth]

1. If the Catholic Daughters were really honest, they would collectively tell

the bishops to back off and save their money. Make it loud and very public.. We found non-Catholic doctors and hospitals. Who needs ya?

[cbayer]

6. They have done exactly the opposite and have a "call to action"

to support the bishops on their website.

Shame on them.

[monmouth]

12. Shame on them is right. I'll have to visit that site. Thanks..

[mzteris]

2. where else will all those victims come from?

unwanted children are easier prey. . .

[laconicsax]

17. !

[LiberalEsto]

3. Oh, get a life, bishops!

Don't you idiots have anything better to do than rape little boys and subjugate women?

[The Blue Flower]

4. I see this as a net positive

How much more clearly can you define the differences between their side and ours? Birth control is such a personal, intrusive issue, it completely blows up the anti-big-govt argument. And how many guys out there really want the woman in their life to not have access to birth control? Beuhler? Beuhler?

[cbayer]

5. Really good point. They look so completely out of touch.

[NAO]

7. So now the Roman Catholic Church is a Super-PAC?

they are going to run attack ads against Obama on TV and radio?

[cbayer]

8. I thought that that kind of action would invalidate their tax exempt status.

I think they are skating on really thin ice here.

[wryter2000]

9. I wonder if they'll ask the Episcopalians to join in

Presiding Bishop Catherine Jefferts-Schori will

[pennylane100]

10. At what point do they risk losing their tax exempt status.

I think it would be great if we could start a campaign to challenge their tax exempt status because of their political meddling.
If we could raise enough funds to take them to court, because of this or even on a gender discrimination suit it would at least get their attention.

I have very little hope, actually none, that we would succeed, but it would be at least a way of expressing our disapproval.
If we were able to collect a few thousand dollars, if at least one thousand DU members gave $10.00 and we were able to get a legal organization to file suit, even if it was summarily dismissed, I would feel like I got my ten bucks worth.

Now I just need 9999 of you guys to agree with me. I hope I do not sound too much like Herman Cain.

[skepticscott]

16. Risk?

In theory, they SHOULD lose their tax exempt status if they move from issue politics to endorsing or opposing candidates for partisan political office. From a practical standpoint, it's hard to imagine the IRS taking on something that big over a single incident, so the actual risk is probably non-existent. Even organizations that eventually have their tax exemption yanked always get a warning first and have a chance to get back into line.

[kwassa]

11. Tea party Catholic bishops? Prepare to lose. Big time.

They believe they have a mandate they don't possess. What fools. They'll find out.

[madrchsod]

13. well there`s a match made in hell--catholics and evangelicals

it was`t all that long ago when they were enemies.

[Ilsa]

14. Somebody please parade a long line of

cherubic altar boys in front of those bishops to distract them from this war on women.

(Just don't leave them alone with the kids.)

[Dawson Leery]

15. Two oppressive organizations, the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Church

are teaming up to promote even more oppression.

Tax the s**t out of them!

[Brettongarcia]

18. Here's a traditional Catholic Theology that allows compromise in religion

The Bible tells us to make our compromises with governments; give unto Caesar what is his; "obey your governors" or authorities. And in fact, the Bible is right in this.

To be sure, the balance between government - and between the many competing religions, too - is a delicate one, that is hard to achieve. Consider this relevant case: some Quaker pacifists for example, object that they don't want to pay the portion of their income tax, that goes to support the Defense Department. To pay for war, the military, is against the Quaker religion.

Are they allowed to do that? Are Quakers for example allowed not to fund, things they don't believe in?

In facgt, they are not. What indeed would happen, if we in fact, instituted current objections to Catholics paying, however indirectly, for things they don't support? The US would collapse, among other things, from the claims of competing religions. If we allowed religions Absolute sway, the US would dissolve into a massive civil war.

And so instead? We allow the many competing religions, to have most of what they demand. But when their demands conflict with each other? Then? Then we ask them to be reasonable. And by the way? To pay their taxes, for the good of the larger community.

It is strange to think that any religion should be asked to compromise. And yet, as another example? For our Protestant founders, to even allow Catholicism within American borders, was an act of extraordinary generosity - and compromise - with other religions. As they interact with each other in the public marketplace and communities, overseen by government.

A Christian tolerance and broadmindedness - the Catholic virtue of "Charity" - is necessary here. Otherwise? Our various subcultures decend into provincial, tribal antagonisms, and anarchy.

[cleanhippie]

19. Excellent news!

This only will make them even less relevant, diminishing their influence. This is a good thing.