I found out via Catholic Vote that the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. has written a letter rebuking Georgetown University for having chosen U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as a speaker when her actions directly threaten Catholics, Catholic institutions and organizations right to practice their beliefs in accordance with our Faith. This is not about contraception. This fight is about religious liberty, Catholics, Christians and all American citizens retaining our right to religious freedom which is guaranteed in the Constitution. She is an anti-Catholic Catholyc who has dissented from various Church teachings for years and causes grave scandal to the Church. At least her bishop has made it known that she is not to receive Holy Communion until she sincerely repents for her scandalous sins, but I still think she should have been excommunicated by now – excommunicated out of love for her soul.
Here is the Archdiocese’s statement:
During the past week there has been much in the national and local news regarding the controversial selection of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, to be a featured speaker at an awards ceremony at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute. Yesterday, the President of the University, John J. DeGioia, issued a public statement in response to the concerns, objections and even outrage that have been expressed.
The Archdiocese of Washington reserved public comment to permit Georgetown University and its sponsor, the Society of Jesus, the opportunity to address the controversy. While the explanation of how this unfortunate decision was made is appreciated, it does not address the real issue for concern – the selection of a featured speaker whose actions as a public official present the most direct challenge to religious liberty in recent history and the apparent lack of unity with and disregard for the bishops and so many others across the nation who are committed to the defense of freedom of religion.
Contrary to what is indicated in the Georgetown University President’s statement, the fundamental issue with the HHS mandate is not about contraception. As the United States Bishops have repeatedly pointed out, the issue is religious freedom. Secretary Sebelius’ mandate defines religious ministry so narrowly that our Catholic schools and universities, hospitals and social service ministries do not qualify as “religious enough” to be exempt. This redefinition of religion penalizes Catholic organizations because they welcome and serve all people regardless of their faith. Ironically, because of Georgetown’s commitment to open its doors to Catholic and non-Catholic students alike, the university fails to qualify as a religious institution under the HHS mandate.
Given the dramatic impact this mandate will have on Georgetown and all Catholic institutions, it is understandable that Catholics across the country would find shocking the choice of Secretary Sebelius, the architect of the mandate, to receive such special recognition at a Catholic university. It is also understandable that Catholics would view this as a challenge to the bishops.
It is especially distressing to think that the university’s Public Policy Institute would be unaware of this national debate since the mandate was published last August. Such a radical redefining of ministry should prompt Georgetown, as a Catholic and Jesuit university, to do more to challenge the mandate and speak up for freedom of religion.
Catholic Vote is calling for unity. They have a letter posted on CatholicsforUnity.com urging Georgetown officials to rescind the Sebelius’ invite. On that same page is a petition which I encourage you to sign to express your outrage at this so-called Catholic university having invited a person who has shown to be an enemy to the Church to speak at a graduation ceremony.
Catholic Vote Reminds us of Sebelius’ animosity towards the Church and its brethren:
Remember this is the same Kathleen Sebelius who last year said: “We are at war” with people like us. She said those infamous words at a major fundraiser for NARAL, one of the largest and most notorious pro-abortion lobbying groups.
Make no mistake. Kathleen Sebelius is using every lever of power to promote abortion and to cripple our Church’s institutions. Her HHS mandate would bury every Catholic charity, hospital and school – including Georgetown University – in an avalanche of fines, if they refuse to comply.
It’s already happening. This week Franciscan University of Steubenville announced that they will no longer offer a student health insurance plan this fall.
If Georgetown doesn’t rescind her invite do you think that the college should lose its Catholicity or Catholic identity and financial support from the Archdiocese?
