The following comes from an April 7 story on the website Vox.com.
It sounds, in a way, like a conservative fever dream: the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the federal government to find out if Catholic Charities is providing abortions to immigrant teenagers — many of whom don’t have legal status in the United States.
But that’s essentially what is happening as of Monday, when the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to find out whether teenagers who are being housed in Catholic Charities–operated facilities (after being apprehended as unaccompanied migrants) have access to contraception and abortion.
The lawsuit illustrates the difficult position Catholic Charities (and its parent organization, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops) is in with the federal government right now.
It’s working as a federal contractor to house unaccompanied minors. Its work here aligns with liberals: providing humane care to children and teenagers who came to the US alone, many of whom were the victims of sexual assault in their home countries or during the journey to America. But this also puts the group on the hook for following federal regulations regarding health-care access, which opens up another front in the ongoing culture war over whether and when institutional freedom of conscience for religious organizations can supersede individual rights to reproductive choice.
….Catholic Charities has a contract with the federal government to help house unauthorized immigrants in the United States who are awaiting court decisions on whether they can remain in the country.
The influx of unauthorized children and families into the United States slowed dramatically in the fall of 2014, but some are continuing to arrive. While they don’t have legal immigration status when they arrive in the US, that doesn’t mean they’re automatically unauthorized immigrants.
….The lawsuit is probably getting more attention (especially from conservative media) because of the combination of two hot-button issues: abortion and immigration.
But immigration is something of a red herring here. Even if all migrants to the US were being kept in detention facilities and deported quickly, there would still be federal regulations regarding what happened if they got raped. And the fact that these facilities are being operated by Catholic Charities instead of a private prison company is an indication that Catholic Charities is aligned with the federal government in wanting to provide humane care to children and teenagers who’ve arrived unaccompanied.
The real issue here is whether a religious organization taking federal money needs to abide by the laws of the government or of its faith. From the ACLU’s perspective, Catholic Charities is taking millions of dollars in federal contracts to care for migrant children and teenagers, and it’s the nonprofit’s job to carry out what the government wants — including abortion access. From the Catholic perspective, the government is yet again putting new requirements on existing contracts, and following those requirements would facilitate women getting abortions, in contravention of their faith and their organizational policy.
No one can force somebody else to do evil. The federal government cannot force Catholic Charities to kill unborn babies. Do not rationalize! Stop taking federal money!!
Those charities that use the name “Catholic” or advertise themselves as “Catholic” must adhere to the Catholic Faith – 100%.
They MUST NOT receive money from the government or any other organization that violates Church teaching.
“On the SERVICE of CHARITY” – Motu Proprio (effective Dec, 2012)
https://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20121111_caritas.html
” ON THE SERVICE OF CHARITY”
https://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20121111_caritas.html
“ Art. 8 § 3. It is the duty of the diocesan Bishop and the respective parish priests to see that in this area the faithful are not led into error or misunderstanding; hence they are to prevent publicity being given through parish or diocesan structures to initiatives which,
while presenting themselves as charitable, propose choices or methods at odds with the Church’s teaching.
“ Art. 10 § 3. In particular, the diocesan Bishop is to ensure that charitable agencies dependent upon him do not receive financial support from groups or institutions
that pursue ends contrary to Church’s teaching.
Similarly, lest scandal be given to the faithful, the diocesan Bishop
is to ensure that these charitable agencies do not accept contributions
for initiatives whose ends, or the means used to pursue them,
are not in conformity with the Church’s teaching. ”
CCC: ” 1759 An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention. The end does not justify the means. “
NO USCCB charity – CCHD, Catholic Charities, or CRS should be applying for and receiving Federal Grants (or State grants).
The Federal Government and most State Governments have many goals severely “CONTRARY to Church teaching” – intrinsic evils.
This includes but is not limited to: Abortion, Contraception, Homosexual Marriage and Acts, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Human Cloning,
Any Bishop who believes that ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION (in violation of Church teaching CCC 2241)
– is more important than non-negotiable intrinsic evils and Saving Souls
will fight for the CRS, Catholic Charities, and CCHD to continue applying for Federal Grant money.
Most will agree that when you sign a contract (Grants), you must adhere to the rules of those contracts – “without which no other form of justice is possible”.
This is Church teaching – CCC 2411.
It is a shame that the ACLU has to make Catholic Bishops do their jobs.
This is one of the few times that the ACLU is correct, but for different reasons.
The USCCB’s – CRS, CCHD, and ‘Catholic Charities’ applies for and receives approx. $63 MILLION annually from the Federal Government to do the Government’s job.
Jesus expects us to do the best we can (as individuals) to help the poor.
He never taught that we should partner with any government.
If the bishops cave in this one, as they did when abortion was legalized, trading 60 million babies for one tax exemption, prepare for America’s chastisement. God is all merciful and good. We must pray and fast that the Holy Spirit move these men to be Faithful to their calling to be true Shepherds in the face of the wolves who seek to devour all Christians and the Church.
Will CRS and other so-called Catholic Charities have to give the money back to the Federal Government – since the Obama Administration had a new set back today regarding their ILLEGAL amnesty actions ?
The federal judge who slapped a hold on Barack Obama’s executive amnesty
plans refused to budge on it, telling the Department of Justice that
there was no pressing need to proceed while other issues get
adjudicated. Hanen also did a little more slapping with DoJ lawyers over
alleged misconduct in the case:
https://hotair.com/archives/2015/04/08/video-judge-denies-wh-request-to-lift-hold-on-executive-amnesty-program/
and
the Judge’s Order:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1760659/040715-hanen-discovery-order.pdf
Let’s put Catholic dogma ahead of government subsidies. If not, then we are just another secular organization rather than a Catholic Church.
It will be interesting to see what kind of Documentation the ACLU will get from the Federal Government.
Either:
1) The CRS has been lying to Bishops and other Catholics, and adhering to government requirements for abortions, and contraception, etc.; or
2) The CRS has been fraudulently taking money from the Government by not adhering to government rules.
Either way the CRS has not been adhering to “On the Service of Charity” as required by the Vatican – for taking money from an entity which proposes choices or methods which violate Church teaching. :(
Please keep us posted. This appears to be a scandalous cover-up.
If the CRS has been stealing from the Federal Government by not providing government required services with government money
will CRS: be fined, forbidden to get further Grants, and/or have to return the money to the Government ?
Or will the blatant disregard for the law be allowed to continue?
The Catholic Faith requires reparation for stealing.
Dummy! The new born child will automatically be an AMERICAN CITIZEN.
The mother must be permitted to remain in the U.S. to care for her child.
When a young unaccompanied person enters the U.S., where is your Charity towards them? You appear to be simply attacking the Catholic Church?
Brian, you are the dummy, not Janet. Many Thousands of children are being allowed to enter the US without their parents – who are back in their Country of origin.
Don’t you pay attention to anything?
The children were not born here, and their parents are not here. And Obama is not stopping them at the border !
“Is the SURGE of ILLEGAL CHILD Immigrants a National Security Threat? ”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-the-surge-of-illegal-child-immigrants-a-national-security-threat/
ILLEGALS of any age must not be permitted to cross the border.
Any Clergy (regardless of rank) who approves or participates in an Abortion is automatically excommunicated.
CCC: ” 2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense.
The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life.
A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae, by the very commission of the offense, and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.
The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society. ”
Responsibility for the sins of others – – – Aiding and Abetting:
CCC ” 1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
– by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
– by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers.
What ever happened to: “SEPARATION OF GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH”?
Does your President Obama attend Christian Church services each Sunday?
Previous Presidents attended church services on Sundays.
Some would say one acting like Dictators… Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini is not to be accepted in the U.S.A.
Obama plays golf on Sundays, Saturdays, and some weekdays.
He does not have time for Church (at least not a Christian one).
Obama hates the Bible, and MOCKS Jesus and the Beatitudes (Sermon on the Mount).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnmS_vULPxw
The Obama Administration has been using religious charities to do his dirty work;
The allows ILLEGALS into the Country and then using our tax dollars pays Christian Charities to take care of them.
This has got to stop.
ILLEGAL immigration exacerbates drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and murder.
When are the US Bishops going to start supporting BORDER CONTROL, and legal immigration only ?
When are Bishops going to adhere to Doctrine of the Faith – CCC 2241 ?
When are Bishops going to stop supporting abortion loving, homosexual marriage loving, contraception loving, DEMOCRATIC politicians, so Bishops charities can get their hands on more government money ?
This is why Bishops do not teach, correct and if necessary discipline sinful Catholic politicians – giving grave Scandal, and even allowing Sacrilege – Holy Communion to those in mortal (grave) sin.
Bishops can send money to Dioceses in the specific Countries where people truly need assistance.
Bishops and their charities must not continue working for the Obama Administration that clearly supports intrinsic evils which violate our Catholic Faith – abortion on demand, – homosexual marriage, – contraception.
This was mercy Sunday. Today was the day that Pope Francis put out a Bull on the coming Year of Mercy. Its a good read and available on the web. An interesting aspect of the Year of Mercy will be to change us from a church of condemnation to a church that welcomes and forgives. Growing in Christian love and salvation is not about rules and regulations, but it is about growing, welcoming, joining others on their journey, making your own trek, forgiving those who trespass against us so that we can ask forgiveness for those we judge. This should be an interesting year for all of us. It will be hard for me. I hope it is easier for others. God of Mercy!