dioc280 webheader960 romanmissal6.jpg
A Message from Bishop Blair...
Share

"...an unprecedented attack on freedom of conscience and of religion."

"On January 20, 2012, it was announced that the Obama Administration has refused to rescind its requirement that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans by 2013, without regard for religious belief or conscience.

For the United States this is an unprecedented attack on freedom of conscience and of religion.  It prompts a troubling question as to just how far the heavy hand of government will go, despite protestations and assurances to the contrary, to impose what Pope Benedict has called ‘powerful new cultural currents which are not only directly opposed to core moral teachings of Judeo-Christian tradition, but increasingly hostile to Christianity as such.’  ‘It is imperative,’ the Pope says, ‘that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to realize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres.

I urge everyone in the Diocese of Toledo, beginning with the clergy, to address this issue squarely, to inform people what is at stake, to prepare them to make sacrifices for their faith, to keep our country in their prayers, and to work to overturn what we Bishops have called a ‘literally unconscionable’ decision by the Obama Administration."

Important points about this decision...

The contraceptive mandate imposed on health plans by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violates freedom of conscience, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment and several federal laws. The Bill of Rights says we are free to live by our religious beliefs. Forcing all of us to buy coverage for sterilization and contraceptives, including drugs that induce abortion, is a radical incursion into freedom of conscience.

Never before in U.S. history has the federal government forced citizens to directly purchase what violates their beliefs. The Supreme Court recently declared in the Hosanna-Tabor case that the Constitution gives a priority place to Freedom of Religion.

HHS created this mandate after Congress asked it to develop a list of services all health plans should provide without co-pay. Instead of keeping with the prevention of diseases like breast cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and gestational diabetes, HHS took it upon itself to include sterilizations, contraceptives and abortion- inducing drugs.

Even states with similar mandates have a broader conscience exemption, or at least allow employers to self-insure or to choose a plan without prescription drug coverage if they have a conscientious objection to underwriting abortion, contraceptive and sterilization. This mandate forces virtually all insurance plans to offer such services.

If the Administration will not rescind this violation of the First Amendment, Congress must do so.

Click here to read a letter from Bishop Blair concerning the mandate.

Click here to watch a video with Archbishop Dolan on this subject.

USCCB says US Bishops vow to fight HHS edict. Click here to read. 

Your Representative's contact information: Click here.

 
Consecrated life means living for God, others, pope says at audience
Share

Consecrated life entails giving oneself completely to God and living for others, Pope Benedict XVI said.
 
Speaking at his weekly general audience Jan. 25, the pope continued his catechesis on Christian prayer, looking at the Last Supper, when Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood.
 
The pope said Jesus prayed for God's intercession for his disciples, who, like himself, "do not belong to the world."
 
Consecration also entails going on missions, the pope said, as Jesus told God, "As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world."

Read the entire article in the Catholic Chronicle by clicking here.

 
Mass for Consecrated Life
Share

The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Bishop of Toledo will celebrate a Mass for Consecrated Life on February 12, 2012 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral located at 2535 Collingwood Blvd. in Toledo. Expanded secure parking facilities are now available at Rosary Cathedral. For more information, please contact the Cathedral office at 419-244-9575.

This year marks the 16th year that part of a weekend Mass celebration has been designated to highlight, celebrate and thank the men and women in consecrated life and to pray for an increase of vocations.  The diverse forms of consecrated life include: Monastic Life, the Orders of Virgins, Hermits, and Institutes completely devoted to contemplation, Apostolic Religious Life, Secular Institutes, and Societies of Apostolic Life. For more information on consecrated life, click here.

 
In Celebration of Black History Month
Share

A Eucharistic Liturgy
in Celebration of Black History Month

MichaelYoungbloodcelebration“Remembering Michael Youngblood,
Celebrating Youth and Their Faith and Dreams”

Sunday, February 5, 2012
10:30 a.m.

Saint Martin de Porres Church
1119 West Bancroft Ave., Toledo, Ohio

Celebrant: Reverend Paul Kwiatkowski
Homilist: Deacon Turner

Music by the Saint Martin de Porres Gospel Choir

For more information, call 419-241-4544.

Sponsored by Black Catholic Ministries, Diocese of Toledo
and Saint Martin de Porres Church

 
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>



Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter

RomanMissalLogo

Catholic Chronicle
Chronicle
prayforpriests
Pray for Priests
Multimedia
Multimedia
Ethics Point
Ethics Point
Calendar
Calendar
Daily Scripture
Daily Scripture
facebook twitter youtube

 

ACALogo2012

For Your Marriage

give to diocesan ministries

Wake Up