Letter To Our Congressperson regarding President Obama's Health Care Mandate:
January 29, 2012
Dear Congresswoman Roybal-Allard,
Most often the Church speaks in the Priestly voice of Jesus, consoling, reconciling, comforting, gently guiding. But in some cases the Church has spoken prophetically and loudly to oppose evil. In 1937 the Pope issued the Encyclical "Mit Brennender Sorge" (With Burining Sorrow), which condemned the actions of the Nazis in Germany. In the United States the Church stood against slavery and for the freedom of Africans who were in America and for African Americans. In the 1950s the Church stood with people of all races to end the bigotry and racism which was legal in many states. In the last century the Church in Mexico was essential to the the Cristero Revolt and the persecution of the Church by the Mexican Government. These have all been the prophetic voice of the Church. And now the Church raises that same prophetic voice again in 2012.
Today at Mass I read Archbishop Gomez' statement regarding President Obama's radical secular attack on the Catholic Church. In that statement he quotes Pope Benedict who has warned the Bishops of the United States about the grave danger which the Church faces in the United States. You may be aware of the situation, in which President Obama called Archbishop Timothy Dolan and informed him that Catholics will not be free to exercise their God given right to teach and practice their faith in Catholic institutions. In this the President has taken it upon himself to attempt to re-define religious activity. Jesus Himself would not qualify as a religious worker under President Obama's new definition. The President has decided that separation of Church and State do not apply to him.
At the end of Archbishop Gomez' statement I addressed the people and told them that the federal government was imposing it's secular view of morality on the Catholic Church. And then I told them that I am saying a loud "No!" to President Obama and all those who would force contraception, sterilization and abortion causing drugs into Catholic Institutions. Then I repeated the loud "No!". At that point people began to applaud and stand. At the Spanish Mass people began to chant "No-Bama!"
If you are in support of the President on this you may want to re-think your position. If you oppose the President on this, then congratulations on your courage to accept the teaching the Church and to defend the Church against these radical and anti-Catholic mandates. I hope you will let me know where you stand on this issue so that I can let the people of my parish and the surrounding parishes understand your position.
With all respect for your office I ask you to join the Catholic Church in it's mission of insuring religious freedom for all.
In Christ,
Fr. John Higgins
Pastor
St. Raymond Catholic Church
Fr. John Higgins, Pastor
Fr. Ossy Kalathil, Associate Pastor
12348 Paramount Boulevard
Downey, Califorina 90242
(562) 923-4509 Fax: (562) 869-3359
Email: straydny@aol.com
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