February 6, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus:

On Friday, January 20, the President approved new regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services.  These regulations mandate that, with few exceptions, all Catholic employers, including Catholic Charities and Catholic hospitals, provide coverage for contraception, abortion-producing drugs and sterilization in the healthcare benefits provided to their employees.  Most insurance programs will have to include these as well.

This mandate directly interferes with the freedom of conscience of individuals and with the freedom of religious belief and practice of our Catholic institutions.  The Administration has chosen to cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our nation's first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty and free exercise of conscience.  Regulations about healthcare are being used to re-define pregnancy as a disease and to make abortion-inducing drugs available to one and all. As a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences or to drop healthcare coverage for our employees and suffer significant penalties for doing so.

As Pope Benedict XVI said last week:

"It is imperative that the entire Catholic Community in the United States come to realize the grave threats to the Church's moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres . . . Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit the most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion."

I would ask of you two things.  First, as a community of faith, we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail and religious liberty may be restored.  Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible.  Second, I would recommend that you contact your US Congressional representatives to express to them why this mandate cannot stand and to support religious freedom through the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012.  This legislation, sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio, would reverse the Administration's decision.  To learn more about this assault on religious liberty, the US Bishops have set up the following special website:  www.usccb.org/conscience. 

Yours devotedly in Christ,

Bishop of Rockville Centre

Greetings! 

"As a gift from God, every human life is sacred from conception to natural death. The life and dignity of every person must be respected and protected at every stage and in every condition. The right to life is the first and most fundamental principle of human rights that leads Catholics to actively work for a world of greater respect for human life and greater commitment to justice and peace".

                                        United States Catholic Conference of Bishops

The above letter written by Most Rev. William Murphy will be shared at parishes this weekend. The DRVC final regisrtation for the March for Life was 40 buses carrying 1900 pilgrims to the march. Thank you to all for your prayers and commitment to life. As we contiune to Belong More Deeply, please consider joining us at the Diocesan Public Policy Convocation on 3/3/2012 at Holy Trinity HS and on 3/13/2012 Catholics at the Capitol. (see online registration below). The Respect Life Youth Awards finalists have been chosen and winners will be selected over the next few weeks and announced at St. John the Baptist High School on March 22, 2012. The Respect Life and Faith Formation Office of Children and Youth are happy to announce a new pilot program hosting Generation Life for the week of 4/16/2012  in parishes. A preview of Generation Life will be offered on 4/26/2012 at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception Respect Life Forum. Please contact your legislators  opposing the HHS Mandate (TAKE ACTION NOW) that violates freedom of conscience and at the New York State Catholic Conference also to oppose the Reproductive Health Act. More information on both is below.

Adult Stem Cell Research

is progressing.

EYE

• "New gene treatment for blindness trialled in Britain," The Telegraph (London), October 27, 2011. (More)

LIVER

• "Genetic liver condition corrected with stem cells," The Telegraph (London), October 12, 2011, (More)

LUNG

• "Cystic fibrosis patients see significant results with Regenocyte adult stem cell therapy," Market Watch, October 9, 2011, (More)