So Jesus said them: Render un Caesar what belongs Caesar and t o God what belongs God. ( Mt 22:21/Mk 12:17/Lk 20:25) M y brothers s erious and sisters, stand here day because of an alarming and matter that strikes at fundamental right religious f reedom. T he federal government w hich was formed be of the people, by the p eople, and for the people h as a re a re free here b elongs t o let h old f aith, but d ecided tell the government know w ill some of those people that be required deny it in practice. will render un Caesar what Caesar, but will NOT render un Caesar what belongs God! In late January, th e Department of Health and Human Services announced almost all employers -- i ncluding Catholic employers w ould be f orced o ffer their employees health coverage that includes contraception, s terilization and potentially abortion-i nducing drugs. This is in direct c ontradiction the teachings of the Catholic faith. Recognizing this as a grave threat religious liberty, many people spoke o ut against the Mandate. I n response this reaction, President Obama s Administration announced a so-c all ed compromise i n early February. N ow, instead of the Catholic C hurch b eing required pay f or contraception, s terilization and potentially abortion- i nducing drugs, the i nsurance companies will be required provide those services f ree of charge. We need say loud and clear: Mr. President, there s no such thing as a free lunch! Contraception, sterilization and abortion- i nducing drugs aren t f ree. S omeone has pay for them. If the i nsurance company h as provide t hem, t he cost will be p assed o n the consumer o ne way or another s how the economy works! We 1
I n addition, t he point of fact is that t he Archdiocese of S t. Louis i s self insured a s are m any other Catholic organizations across the country. Y es, United Health Care processes a n d investigates our c laims, and negotiates rates on behalf; b ut the money t o pay for them c omes e ntirely f rom our pockets. In other words, the so- c alled compromise didn t change anything. C atholic employers a nd the Catholic Church itself will still be forced pay for things that directly contradict our faith. b elieve, but not free put our beliefs i n practice. freedom of worship, but not f reedom of religion. Apparently are free In other words, have Our ecumenical brothers and sisters are standing with us day as co- s ponsors Missouri of this event, and I lcome them t he Lutheran Church, Synod, t he Missouri Baptist Convention and the Assemblies of G od USA. T heir wi tness day says loud and clear: this is not about c ontraception. T his is about religious liberty. T oday, t he government telling t he t elling us government e cumenical Catholic Catholic Church how define its mission; the government is which o f is telling us ministries w hat are or are not religious; the teachings can and cannot act on. Our brothers and sisters know that if the government can tell the Church those things t oday, then c hopping block morrow. o ne r ender it might be t heir heads on the They are here so that can say gether as body: will render un Caesar what belongs Caesar, but will NOT un Caesar what belongs God! is 2
S o, wh at are our options? + We can submit the M andate a nd violate our teachings. M any C atholic colleges have a lready done just that. But let s be clear what s at s take here: w e are being asked s ay w e hold t he f aith, b ut deny it i n practice. T hat s hypocrisy, and cannot accept it. + W e can shut down our Catholic hospitals, our Catholic schools, and our C atholic charities. We can accept the invitation get out of the public square. B ut if do that w e v iolate the m ission J esus gave us, and a bandon the practices on which he ld us w e would be ju dged: t o teach, c are for the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked. In other words, woul d break faith with our mission a nd jeopardize our salvation. We c an t do that. +O ur institutions could seek exemption as religious employers -- i f they agree h ire p rimarily Catholics and s erve p rimarily Catholics. Just i magine Jesus saying the Samaritan woman at the ll: I m sorry, I c an t reveal the truth you. I f I minister foreigners it w ould jeopardize m y religious status. J esus Christ didn t come serve only his o wn people, and neither do. C atholic hospitals and Catholic charities and Catholic schools don t serve people because t hey are Catholic; serve people because w e a re Catholic, a nd J esus Christ himself gave us a mission share the Good News with e veryone. The botm line is this: th e government has left us no good options. We c annot, in good faith, c omply w ith the mandate as written. Every avenue compromises our mission, and forces us render un Caesar what b elongs God. 3
So what should do? Thankfully, have a roadmap, because w e ve b een here before! I f you think about it, ou r situation is j ust like that of the e arly Christians living i n the heyday of the Roman Empire. For the first t hree centuries of Christianity, Roman culture and law provided a c limate that was not particularly friendly the Church, and was openly h o stile it at certain points. H ow did the early Church survive and thrive in a hostile c ulture? How did it come pass that the Church is still a living reality, but the Roman E mpire only lives in hisry books? I t was the witness of believers. It was t heir faithfulness i n word and deed t o t he Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their witness faith w on the day then, a nd our w itness the f aith c an win the day again. The Church day, like the early Church, needs people who are ready a nd w illing let their words and deeds bear witness the Gospel of Jesus C hrist i n the public square. We n eed p eople who are willing make s acrifices so that the truth of the Gospel can be heard, our culture c hallenged, and our world transformed. M ost often the sacrifice required of us h as been t he w hite martyrdom of a l ife that is faithful the Gosp el r ather than faithful t he culture. B ut the t ime has come when must be prepared for extraordinary sacrifices as w ell. And s precisely what Jesus himself promised us and ld us e xpect: H e summoned the crowd with his disciples and said t o them:, W h oever wishes come after me must deny himself, take up his c r oss, and follow me. ( M k 8:34; Mt 16:24; L k 9: 23) 4
I am convinced that taking up the cross is the way life. b efore t he v icry on the c ross W ill Y o u? W ill and follow him. cross there is no defense. I am convinced I am c onvinced that Jesus won cross, and that he will win vicry in us if take up our you stand with me and say Jesus, I will take up my cross and follow you M andate. stand with m e a nd say: M r. President, w e cannot comply with this We WILL render un Caesar what belongs Caesar; but w ill NOT render un Caesar what belongs God. M r President: resre religious freedom! Brothers B ut and sisters: must be prepared suffer for our convict i ons. faith tells us a nd hisry shows us suffering will make our w itness grow stronger. With that conviction, let us recall the words of E ITHER Sain t Paul the Romans O R S t. Peter: I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, offer your b odies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing God, your spiritual worship. not conform yourselves this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ) Do Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange re happening you. But rejoice the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when Hi s glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you whoever is made suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name. (1 Peter 4: 12-16) 5