We Cannot Ignore Our Consciences: Cardinal Dolan On Religious Liberty

By Junno Arocho
9/16/2012
Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org)

The president of the USCCB also had strong words for Democratic minority leader, Nancy Pelosi

Speaking on the theme of "Let Religious Freedom Ring", Cardinal Dolan noted that "freedom of religion has been the driving force of almost every enlightened, un-shackling, noble cause in American history. Thus, the defense of religious freedom is not some evangelical Christian polemic, or wiley strategy of discredited Catholic bishops, but the quintessential American cause, the first line in the defense of and protection of human rights," he said.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Zenit.org) - On Monday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) delivered the Fall Lecture for the The John Carroll Society, an organization within the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., that "promotes the enhancement of spiritual, intellectual and social fellowship among its members."

"Thus, the defense of religious freedom is not some evangelical Christian polemic, or wiley strategy of discredited Catholic bishops, but the quintessential American cause, the first line in the defense of and protection of human rights," he said.

The archbishop of New York went on to discuss various events of American history that underlined the value of religious freedom. He cited each event as "exhibits" in his case to prove that "religious freedom in American history has hardly been the cause of chilling, repressive, retrograde movements, but of the most liberating, ennobling ones."

Drawing upon examples of heroism on the part of religious leaders during the American Revolution, as well as, several notable abolitionists whose stance against slavery came from a conscience formed by faith, Cardinal Dolan went onto explain how the religious convictions of notable persons within history supported, and directly caused progressive changes within the United States.

Citing historical scholar Dan McKanan, the cardinal explained that as a result of women's role during the abolitionist movement, "the slow-but-steady advancement of women's equality, was also a religiously animated reform movement."

"This is good reminder, since, today, those who criticize the churches' mobilization in defense of religious freedom often slyly muddy it with 'war on women' slogans," he said.

Other historical events the cardinal said were influenced by religious freedom were the Reform Movement of the 19th century, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Peace Movement of the '60s.

Cardinal Dolan went on to speak of the HHS mandate as a direct threat to religious freedom. The Health and Human Services (HHS) federal mandate in question would require employers of religious institutions to pay for insurance that provides abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, and sterilization procedures to employees.

"Thus, to say it again, the wide ecumenical and inter-religious outrage over the HHS mandate is not about its coverage of chemical contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs -- in spite of the well-oiled mantra from our opponents -- but upon the raw presumption of a bureau of the federal government to define a church's minister, ministry, message, and meaning," he said.

The president of the USCCB also had strong words for Democratic minority leader, Nancy Pelosi. The former speaker of the House, who is also Catholic, stated last year that the Catholic Church needed "to get over their conscience thing" regarding abortion and contraception.

"No, we don't; no, we can't; as believers, as Americans," he exclaimed.

Cardinal Dolan concluded his lecture, reiterating that the only freedom that the Church desires is "the freedom to carry the convictions of a faith-formed conscience into our public lives."

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1 - 10 of 15 Comments

James Gibson
1 month ago
The link to the full address appears to be broken.
eithena
2 months ago
A truely religious person is a gift of GOD +you will find them if you look they dont change their opion at the drop of a hat or take life for a cause they dont have a flag they have 10 commanments that dont change just because of life choice or style they are a road map to JESUS there is no other map just the one and the best guide is th CATHOLIC CHURCH
Thomas leavins
3 months ago
This country i in troubled waters. I feel there is a solution, a dramatic solution. I understand the churches are threatened with their tax exempt status. But is it worth denying God

Today the churches are sitting in their benches and saying God will take care of us. God did feed the multitudes, but asked for a loaf of bread a fish and water. Man had to take action. David slew the giant, but david had to pick up the sling shot and rock. It took action. The walls of jericho came tumbling down but it took action in a prescribed manner.

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION; I FELT LIKE I WAS DOING SOME ACTION FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I have signed ever petition I felt was appropriate . Have written congressmen and only got back form letters. The petitions can be thrown into the garbage. Letters can be ignored. And phone banks can be shut down. This government does not want to hear from us. The first revolution was started from a church stepple , and God gave us this country, for his good. It is time for the churches to stand up and say what they believe. WAR has been declaired on the people, morality, God and his word.

If we worked within the churches ALL denominations. Catholic Protestant and everyone picks an issue, to discuss with their congressman gets appointments with them for 16 hours with three or four people in each appointment. 535 members of congress that would be 9160 appointments with @ 40,000 people involved inside the building. in 16 hours, giving one hour for each appointment. While having a demonstration outside with 200 300 thousand people marching around the building . This is something that could not be ignored tossed or turned off. As the walls of Jerico came tumbling down the corruption, of congress can be swept out the door and the halls can be washed with morality.

Instead of being against something that is being defensive . Be offensive and be armed with the facts. Put the ten commandments back into the public buildings, return to what god built this country for. With God and morality mass shootings will stop. Mental health will be achieved.

Instead of being the silent majority, the time to be heard is now. As I was told to stay in power is a numbers game. As above we need to force the numbers. Congress likes to vote in the early morning hours during the night especially when they try to hide votes. Now force them to actually work until past the midnight hours, listening and learning. Congress can no longer be the low information voters.

I need scholarly direction.to navigagte through this mine field it is something the rudder cannot be placed midship and full steam ahead.
Brian K
3 months ago
hardly 'strong words' for pelosi... simply lip service. it takes courage to lead, something unfortunately lacking in our church today... seriously, is the church worried about losing her membership or all of the good publicity she raises for Catholics? ha... good grief.
Judy Claar
6 months ago
Paul-Emile Leray: Once again, I am on your ban wagon! Blessings...
Paul-Emile Leray
6 months ago
It has been sometimes noted that politicians usually drag the world into wars, then religions often get blamed for it. Politics is a power and control game. It is highly manipulative. Also, democracies inherently tilt towards mobocracies. People seeking election, on any level, usually manipulate in some form or another. The more Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops throw around their theological and philosophical weight in the public sphere, the better. Anyone who would trust highly political types seeking, or in positions of, power is simply naive. Furthermore, since it is the nature of truth that it usually separates itself from the crowd; it should be self evident that politicians are often wrong since majority opinion counts for something big in democracies. Therefore, politicians campaign and sell their snakeoil to the majority. What if the majority is nuts? In a room filled with drunken sailors, the guy promising a few more dozen beers as the bottles are going empty is the one who will get elected! Heck, some will even suggest a parade for the fellow. And then the next morning? The majority, with their hangovers, wakes up wishing someone would have closed down the bar a little earlier. When the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops lazer a few politicians here and there, with penetrating analytical HEAT from time to time; these men are doing politicians, law-makers, and the citizenry at large a great service. Even though we all suffer from the human condition and are fallen sinners, the fact remains is that the laity ought to be backing up our Catholic leaders with zeal. They are human. They get tired. We need more people to support them. It is to the best interest of everyone, even those opposing us. And often times, the more people bark and make noise the more likely you are right. Why? Because the majority is usually wrong unless the whole of society is filled with saints and mystics and geniuses.
Paul-Emile Leray
Alex Estrada
7 months ago
According to Pope Clement XII's Pontifical Constitution "In Eminenti"

Wherefore We command most strictly and in virtue of holy obedience, all the faithful of whatever state, grade, condition, order, dignity or pre-eminence, whether clerical or lay, secular or regular, even those who are entitled to specific and individual mention, that none, under any pretext or for any reason, shall dare or presume to enter, propagate or support these aforesaid societies of Liberi Muratori or Francs Massons, or however else they are called, or to receive them in their houses or dwellings or to hide them, be enrolled among them, joined to them, be present with them, give power or permission for them to meet elsewhere, to help them in any way, to give them in any way advice, encouragement or support either openly or in secret, directly or indirectly, on their own or
through others; nor are they to urge others or tell them, incite or persuade them to be enrolled in such societies or to be counted among their number, or to be present or to assist them in any way; but they must stay completely clear of such Societies, Companies, Assemblies, Meetings, Congregations or Conventicles, under pain of excommunication for all the above mentioned people, which is incurred by the very deed without any declaration being required, and from which no one can obtain the benefit of absolution, other than at the hour of death, except through Ourselves or the Roman Pontiff of the time.

Moreover, We desire and command that both Bishops and prelates, and other local ordinaries, as well as inquisitors for heresy, shall investigate and proceed against transgressors of whatever state, grade, condition, order dignity or pre-eminence they may be; and they are to pursue and punish them with condign penalties as being most suspect of heresy. To each and all of these We give and grant the free faculty of calling upon the aid of the secular arm, should the need arise, for investigating and proceeding against those same transgressors and for pursuing and punishing them with condign penalties. Given at Rome, at Saint Mary Mayor, in the year 1738 of Our Lord."

This article is the example that warrants the urgency for Pope Benedict XVI to enforce the condemnation of FREEMASONRY with an INQUISITION, immediately before this vile plague does further damages. Keep in mind, Freemasonry will NEVER be a religion and it is NOT protected by FReedom of Speech because they take this oath "I WILL HAIL, NEVER REVEAL, AND ALWAYS CONCEAL"
Realist
7 months ago
'Other historical events the cardinal said were influenced by religious freedom were the Reform Movement of the 19th century, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Peace Movement of the '60s.'

He failed to mention the greatest historical event influenced by religious freedom; namely the Reformation.
Fran Holmes
7 months ago
The religious liberty cause is truly muddied by such slogans as accusing the Church of 'a war on women', however, its mild approach with those people in power who openly defy the Church and the good bishops taking such a soft approach to those in power who openly defy it's teachings. Early in Obama's administration, Nancy Pelosi said that she speaks as an 'ardent Catholic' in teachng over public airwaves that our Church doesn't know when the soul enters and life begins. Joe Biden complimented the Chinese on his visit there on their one child policy! Sebelius presents all of her evil, and Caroline Kennedy speaks boldly in front of the DNC so proudly stating that she is a Roman Catholic and proceding to mouth her full support to Planned Parenthood and its continued commitment to take innocent lives.

What is the eaction from the Cardinal and the USCCB on all of this? Quiet. Nothing at all!! The bishops need to do as St. Paul taught in his letters to the Thesalonians--remove the sinner which helps him and the community so that his remaining within the community wont infest it further. Love the sinner, but hate the sin.

When will this happen? If it had the sisters who profess social justice but ignore that social justice begins in the womb wouldn't feel that they are in a position to be stating their cause as Catholics because the bishops would hve and should have along with Pelosi, Biden, Sebelius and other, reminded them that they are NOT as did the good bishop over the young Senator Kennedy in RI for openly supporting abortion. God bless him as well as Bishop Morlino for his open letter to his diocese of Madison WI on the intrinsic evil of violating respect for life, the dignitiy of marriage, property rights, religious liberty and parental rights over the education of their children. That all bishops would do the right thing as these two bishops have!
Nick
8 months ago
I would like to point out to Joe, religion is not the main source of tragedy in the world. The wars fought in the name of religion really are not religious wars at all. In Ireland and Israel, their fighting over land and not religion. The worst genocides in human history happened under atheist regimes such as the Soviet Union and China. While atheist and secular groups use their money and influence to force religion off the public square (for example the billboards that go up around Christmas time and the historic crosses they try to take down), the Catholic Church feeds thousands of starving people everyday and saves thousands of lives. Finally, if you think there's too much religious freedom, then you have no right to comment at all, for you are exercising your freedom to do so.

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