February 9, 2012; Feast of Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
The hue and cry in this country recently is, “The Obama Administration is at war with the Church.” Perhaps. I am persuaded that the Obama government is at war with morality!
We are all aware that during the past fifty years, the American hierarchy, in particular, have failed to teach on the important issues of our time; and priests, generally, have all but abandoned meaningful sermons. But let us leave that kind of recrimination to the leftist media now castigating the clergy for finally attempting to teach by Catholic norms. Cardinal James Gibbons (of The Faith of Our Fathers fame), wrote, “The occasional scandals existing among members of the Church do not invalidate or impair her claim to the title of sanctity. The spots on the sun do not mar his brightness.” We can brush aside the attempt of the elite media, most of whom need a basic course in logic, to drag up the failings of the clergy in recent years, hoping that will draw attention away from the present scandal occupying our White House.
It would appear that many bishops and priests have finally allowed the Holy Ghost to operate within them. They appear to be revitalizing Catholics in the true tenets of our Faith. Yet, the Obama administration, with its well known, “Catholic” kingpins, are determined to win a skirmish, if not the war. They are testing the waters. Again, quoting Cardinal Gibbons, “We cannot close our eyes to the painful fact that many of them [the “Catholics” in name only], far from living up to the teaching of their Church, are sources of melancholy scandal.” Gibbons then quotes our Blessed Lord, “It must be that scandals come, but woe to him by whom the scandal commeth.” (Matt., 18:7) The Cardinal goes on, “I also admit that the sin of Catholics is more heinous in the sight of God than that of their separated brethren, because they abuse more grace.
Three years ago last November, 54% of Catholics in this country made every effort to prove that our country really is great, that it craved to rise above its prejudices and send a man into the presidency who was unique: He would be the first non-white to be our president. While many of us did not vote for him – because some of us actually DID see the handwriting on the wall on account of the blaring deficiencies all too apparent in his character, there was indeed a lump in our throats and tears in our eyes when that man took the oath of office, that America had the “audacity” to raise such a one to the highest office in our land, if not the world. We were proud, even if we were not happy.
Article I of the Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
It is as plain and as simple as that. Those forty-four words have been echoed throughout our nation and the world since 1791. The question facing both our country and the world is equally plain: Is this still true?
We Catholics must continue to keep those words in full power and effect. One may pretend to be aghast when a Cardinal of the Church hints that we might have to defy the administration’s mandate. Aghast, because the leftist media alludes to this as “breaking the law.” There is no such law! At best there is simply a “rule.” Congress makes the laws in this country, not the President, nor the President’s “czars,” nor the President’s cabinet, nor even the courts. Congress has made no law that decent, God-fearing people must forfeit their freedom of conscience for the sake of Obama-care.
Plainly stated once again: Abortion is MURDER. God alone brings life into this world, and God alone determines when that life shall cease on this planet. That is fundamental teaching of Catholicism. Until January, 1973, few disputed that, and all indications are that a majority of people in this country STILL affirm it. Moreover, a majority of Americans favor a reversal of the Supreme Court decision allowing for the murder of unborn children. Science increasingly supports life at conception, in spite of the ill advised holding of the Court. Abortion has nothing whatever to do with women’s health. It has everything to do with our nation’s insatiable appetite for sex, without the incumbent responsibility that this beautiful gift of God imposes upon us.
Pseudo-Catholics may pretend to adhere to the Faith, while holding such views contrary to Catholic teaching. The Bidens, Pelosis and Sebeliuses of this country are not our Catholic models. Were I their bishop, I would excommunicate each and every one of them, and those who are complicit with them in fostering violations of God’s laws.
As good Catholics we are obliged to live according to our properly formed consciences, the Church being the arbiter of our consciences. Make no mistake about it, we must live consistent with our properly formed consciences. We must uphold the teaching of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in this matter and the teachings of the Faith that has been handed down to us since our Blessed Lord walked this earth. Anything less is to give way to the archenemy of God and His Church. May God keep you strong in matters of Faith and morals.
With every good wish and prayerful blessing, I am faithfully yours in Christ,
+ John J. Humphreys
The Most Reverend John J. Humphreys
Archbishop
