Podcasts about hhs mandate

Hour 3 of The Drew Mariani Show on 1-26-22 Charles Yates talks over the Supreme Court case about what is considered "navigable water" and what's not Doug Wilson unpacks how HHS wants to mandate gender reassignment surgeries with no religious exemptions

Ambassador David Mulroney talked about Vatican diplomacy and Taiwan. Patrick Novecosky shared about St Pope John Paul II's 40th anniversary of his encyclical, "Familiarius Consortio" Peter Jesserer Smith discussed his article on the HHS Mandate. 

Dr. McLean Discusses the HHS Mandate on “From the Median” Radio by Thomas Aquinas College Lectures & Talks

Oral Arguments from the College’s HHS Mandate Hearing by Thomas Aquinas College Lectures & Talks

Hillary Byrnes, an attorney for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, provides insight into the controversial HHS Contraception and Sterilization Coverage Mandate as well as the religious liberty concerns with the original mandate and the subsequent accommodation. She also describes the recent exemption granted by the Trump administration.

What's next for Catholics and the HHS mandate?

Today on Right to Life Radio, John talks about the 20-week abortion ban being debated in the Senate, and the repeal of the HHS Mandate.  Tune in!

USCCB Staff members discuss the HHS Mandate and its fate.

John is joined by Jonathan Keller to talk about a proposed regulation from the Trump administration to roll back the HHS Mandate for any employers objecting for moral or religious reasons.  They also talk with Arina Grossu, the Director of the Center for Human Dignity at Family Research Council in Washington, DC, about Planned Parenthood's annual report.  They also discuss the ACLU's various lawsuits against Catholic hospitals for not providing abortions.    Arina's article: http://www.frc.org/newsroom/planned-parenthoods-new-annual-report-shows-why-its-time-to-end-taxpayer-funding   America Magazine article on ACLU lawsuits against Catholic hospitals: http://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2017/05/31/why-aclu-targeting-catholic-hospitals

On March 23, 2016, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Zubik v. Burwell, the lead case in a consolidated series, with the other petitioners including Priests for Life, Southern Nazarene University, Geneva College, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington, East Texas Baptist University, and Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged. -- The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) requires that group health plans and health insurance issuers provide coverage for women’s “preventative care,” or face financial penalties. Although the ACA does not define preventative care, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), relying on the Institute of Medicine, determined that the term encompassed, among other things, all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, including drugs and devices that could induce an abortion. Although the government exempted “religious employers” from this mandate, the exemption was narrowly defined and did not extend to petitioners. The government did, however, offer non-profit entities such as petitioners an “accommodation.” -- Under the accommodation, which was modified in the course of litigation, an objecting religious nonprofit entity complies if it provides the government with a notice that includes “the name of the eligible organization,” its “plan name and type,” and the name and contact information for any of the plan’s third-party administrators (TPAs) and health insurance issuers. Upon receiving the notice, the government notifies the objecting entity’s insurance company or TPA, which then must provide payments for the requisite contraceptive products and services. A number of objecting non-profits sought relief in various federal courts, arguing that the accommodation violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993. The resulting litigation produced a series of fractured opinions and a split in the Courts of Appeals, with non-profit religious organizations prevailing in the Eighth Circuit but losing in a number of others. -- After imposing a brief injunction on enforcement against petitioners while it considered various petitions for certiorari, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a number of petitions and consolidated the cases for oral argument on the following question: whether the HHS Mandate and its “accommodation” violate RFRA by forcing religious nonprofits to act in violation of their sincerely held religious beliefs, when the Government has not proven that this compulsion is the least restrictive means of advancing any compelling interest. On March 29, the Court also issued a detailed order requiring the parties to brief “whether and how contraceptive coverage may be obtained by petitioners'’ employees through petitioners’ insurance companies, but in a way that does not require any involvement of petitioners beyond their own decision to provide health insurance without contraceptive coverage to their employees.” -- To discuss the case, we have Roger Severino, who is Director, DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, The Heritage Foundation.

Helen M. Alvaré JD, Professor of Law, George Mason University, author, speaker and consultant talks about religious freedom, facts about the contraception and the HHS Mandate. Brought to you by 1st Way Pregnancy Centers. 10-21-14-Catholic-Conversation

Our special guest is Michael Warsaw, CEO and Chairman of the Board of EWTN who tells us about EWTN's challenge to the HHS Mandate.

Today's topics: Cheverus Awards; US bishops meeting; American cardinals; HHS mandate; Philippines typhoon Summary of today's show: Our Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Gregory Tracy look at the headlines of the week, including the announcement of awardees of the 2013 Cheverus Awards in the Archdiocese of Boston—among whom is our own Susan Abbott; the election of a new leader of the US bishops conference and decisions on a statement on pornography and on the HHS mandate; and the local Catholic response to the typhoon in the Philippines. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: 2013 Cheverus Award winners Susan Abbott, St. Theresa of Avila Parish, West Roxbury Laura Albaladejo, St. Patick Parish, Brockton Josephine and Charles Anastasia, St. John Chrysostom Parish, West Roxbury Ruth Andrews, St. Katherine Drexel Parish, Boston Mother Teresa Benedicta, OCD, North Region William Bibeau, St. John the Baptist Parish, Haverhill Madelyn Brown, The Catholic TV Network, Watertown (2012) Judy Burton, St. Mary/St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Charlestown Jacquelyn Butterfield, St. Anne Parish, Littleton James Buxton, Holy Trinity Parish, Lowell John Carter, Sacred Heart Parish, Waltham Everett Casey, Sacred Heart Parish, Middleborough John Cheboryot and Mercy Anampiu, St. Michael Parish, Lowell, Kenyan Apostolate Antonio Jr. and Gracita Chiefe, St. Mary Parish, Randolph, Filipino Apostolate Deacon Charles Clough, West Region William Corrigan, St. Anthony Parish, Allston Marileia Costa, St. Anthony Parish, Everett, Brazilian Apostolate Paul Daly, Sacred Heart Parish, Quincy Joan DeGuglielmo, St. Francis Parish, Cambridge Sister Thomasita Delaney, RMS, Merrimack Region Samuel E. DeMerit, St. Paul Parish, Cambridge Jose DePina, St. Peter Parish, Dorchester Barbara Devita, St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, Wilmington Linda Devoll, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Canton Rose DiMare, Immaculate Conception Parish, Revere Anne Doherty, St. Camillus Parish, Arlington M.J. Doherty, Archdiocese of Boston Kevin Dolan, Sts. Martha and Mary Parish, Lakeville Thomas Dwyer, Esq., Archdiocese of Boston Joanne Eagan, Sacred Heart Parish, Lynn Stephen Fair, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Brookline Walter Faria, St. Mary of the Nativity Parish, Scituate George and Linda Furtado, Immaculate Conception Parish, Everett Rosa Garcia, St. James Parish, Haverhill Deacon Alfred Geneus, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Cambridge, Haitian Apostolate Deacon Thomas Hanlon, South Region Anne Hanning, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Waltham John Hennigan, St. Dennis Parish, Westwood Sister Magdalene Ikeda, PDDM, Regina Cleri, Boston, Japanese Apostolate George Jackson, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Braintree Marie Jutkiewicz, St. Tarcisius Parish, Framingham Sonete Kammer, St. Tarcisus Parish, Framingham, Brazilian Apostolate Anne B. Kelly, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Charlestown Mary Kiesinger, St. Dorothy Parish, Wilmington Richard Kimball, St. Cecilia Parish, Boston J. Timothy Looney, St. Joseph Parish, Wakefield Dr. Aloysius Lugira, St. Mary Parish, Waltham, Ugandan Community (2012) Eleanor Mackin, St. Mary Parish, Lynn Judie Mahan, St. Gerard Majella Parish, Canton Constance Malloy, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Sharon Deacon Leo Martin, St. John the Baptist Parish, Peabody Jeanne Masterman, St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Westford Janice Mathias, St. Mary Parish, Billerica Robert Matson, St. Joseph Parish, Holbrook Elinor McFarland, St. Ann by the Sea Parish, Marshfield Darice McIntire, Sacred Heart Parish, Manchester Altagracia Mena, St. Patrick Parish, Lowell Helen Monteiro, St. Patrick Parish, Roxbury Deacon Pablo Morel, North Region Kevin Muldoon, Immaculate Conception Parish, Weymouth Sheila Murphy, St. Andrew Parish, North Billerica Sylvia Murphy, St. Helen Parish, Norwell Joseph R. Nolan, St. Francis Chapel, Boston (Prudential Center) Roberta Oles, St. Mary Parish, Wrentham John Olquist, Holy Family Parish, Dorchester Lawrence and Sally O'Maley, St. John the Baptist Parish, Essex Sister Mary O'Rourke, CSJ, West Region Eduardo Pascua, Holy Trinity Parish, Quincy Mary Peck, St. Margaret Parish, Burlington Michael Pietkiewicz, St. Stanislaus Parish, Chelsea Rita Pizzi, St. Blaise Parish, Bellingham Nancy Pouliot, Holy Family Parish, Amesbury Brother Thomas Puccio, C.F.X., North Region Lucille Ratte, Star of the Sea Parish, Salisbury Pat Riley, St. Michael Parish, North Andover Martha Roberts, St. Malchy Parish, Burlington Sister Florita Rodman, CDP, South Region Ellen Greene Romikitis, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Dorchester John Scanlon, Sacred Heart Parish Margaret Scollins, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Green Harbor Patricia Shafto, St. Christine Parish, Marshfield Deacon Richard Siebert, Merrimack Region Joan Silta, St. Pius X Parish, Milton Stella Simione, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Winthrop Celia Sirois, Archdiocese of Boston Marguerite Small, St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish, Melrose Jean Soucy, St. Magdalen Parish, Tyngsborough Antonio and Delminda Sousa, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Peabody Claudia Suarez, Madonna Queen Shrine, East Boston M. Doris Thompson, St. John the Evangelist Parish, East Bridgewater Joseph Tuan Thong, St. Bernadette Parish, Randolph, Vietnamese Apostolate Paule Verdet, Sacred Heart Parish, Newton Judy Vivien, St. Mary of the Assumption/St. Ann Parish, Hull Ann C. White, St. Ann Parish, Quincy Magda E. Zabala, Holy Family Parish, Dorchester

Today's topics: Bioethics News: Latest on the HHS mandate; Palliative Care; Advanced Care Planning Summary of today's show: M.C. Sullivan returns to discuss the latest bioethics and healthcare news from a Catholic perspective, including the continuing fight to stop the HHS mandate as part of the Affordable Care Act; the efforts to strengthen palliative care at the end of life; and the need for people to think about planning for the medical care at the end of their lives or when they're unable to speak for themselves. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): M.C. Sullivan Links from today's show:

September 23, 2013 This week’s episode: “Blessed are They”: Blessed Anna Schaeffer “Among Women” Guest: Elizabeth Scalia This week Pat shares a few themes from Lumen Fidei— Pope Francis’ first encyclical letter — as well as the life of Anna Schaeffer who found the keys to hope and faith despite a life of physical suffering.  Also, we look at the latest book release from author-blogger Elizabeth Scalia, Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life. Scalia, well known in the blogging world as The Anchoress, is the managing editor at the Catholic Channel at Patheos. In this interview we talk about rooting out hidden forms of idolatry in our own lives in order to deepen our faith in Christ. Links for this episode: Pope Francis’ encyclical Lumen Fidei Pat’s series on Lumen Fidei at “A Word in Season” at Patheos : Introduction, Chapter One. Look for other chapters 2, 3, and 4 to appear here in coming weeks. Elizabeth Scalia’s blog, The Anchoress Elizabeth Scalia’s column at First Things Elizabeth Scalia’s book Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life Pat’s review of Strange Gods Other shows of related interest: AW 85: Get to know more about Elizabeth Scalia in this interview that discusses the ministry of The Anchoress blog and what it means to stand up for the faith. AW 124: Elizabeth Scalia joins NRO Editor-at-large Kathryn Lopez and talks about the issue of religious freedom as sparked by the controversy of the HHS Mandate. Reminders: Now through Oct. 7, 2013, add your name for the free drawing for a signed copy of Elizabeth Scalia’s new book Strange Gods. Add you name to the drawing by sending your comments to Pat Gohn at amongwomenpodcast@me.com, or at the Among Women podcast facebook page.  

Today's topics: Latest Bioethics News: Three-Parent IVF; HHS Mandate Update; Transplant Denied Based on Character Summary of today's show: M.C. Sullivan returns to discuss the latest issues in Catholic bioethics, including a controversial proposal in Britain to allow “three-parent” in vitro fertilization; differing responses by the Catholic Health Association and the US bishops to the latest US Health and Human Services mandate related to the Affordable Care Act; an attempt to change the public policy on who may make a blood donation, particularly with regard to homosexuals; and an initial denial of a heart transplant to a Georgia teen based on his character and behaviors. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): M.C. Sullivan Links from today's show:

Today's topics: Religious Liberty and the Fortnight for Freedom Summary of today's show: Cardinal Seán O'Malley marked the 2013 Fortnight for Freedom today with a special Mass at the Bethany Chapel of the Pastoral Center in Braintree. Scot Landry, Michael Lavigne, and Dom Bettinelli analyze and expand on the Cardinal's homily in which he noted that there is a difference between religious freedom and “freedom of worship”, that Catholics need to be able to have their voices heard on matters that affect society; and the Church at times must be the prophetic voice of the child who points out that the Emperor has no clothes. Then Scot and Michael discuss today's Supreme Court decisions that struck down key provisions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and returned California's Proposition 8 to lower courts, handing a defeat to those defending the traditional definition of marriage. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Michael Lavigne Links from today's show: from on . Cardinal Seán's homily Good afternoon, everyone. It's wonderful to be with you today as we join with our brothers and sisters in the faith, Catholics throughout the country, who at this time are observing the Fortnight for Freedom, which was called for by the US Catholic Bishops Conference. Our rights, as President Kennedy said in his inaugural address, do not come to us from the government, but come to us “from the hand of God.” That is our very clear conviction. Last year, the Bishops Conference established this Fortnight for Freedom, a period that begins with the vigil of the feast of the martyrs St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More on June 21 and extends two weeks, to the 4th of July, which of course is the anniversary of our American Revolution and the birth of our country. Last year, we had many wonderful programs for the Fortnight, including the Forum on CatholicTV to discuss various aspects of religious freedom in our country. As Catholics, we love our country and see no conflict between being good Catholics and good citizens. The United States was founded on principles of religious freedom. The Pilgrims migrated to New England seeking freedom for their faith. Catholics went to Maryland. Quakers traveled to Pennsylvania. All came here because of religious persecution in Europe. The 1st Amendment protects this precious right of the freedom of religion. In today's world, there are many threats against religious freedom. Thousands of Catholics in the last year have lost their lives, others have been displaced from their homeland, and still others have been imprisoned and tortured. We want to keep them present in our prayers and express solidarity with them throughout the world. Obviously, our challenges in the US are on a different scale but at the same time, these challenges can truly hinder our ability to practice our faith. In our secular climate, it is worrisome that there is tendency to try to reduce religious freedom to “freedom of worship.” Freedom of Religion means so much more than just the ability to keep our churches open. It means freedom to be able to live a way of life, to have religious institutions that allow us to be Catholic and to be a religious people. For those religious institutions to exist, they need a certain amount of space. In the past, there were strong conscience rights that most everyone took for granted. We are a pluralistic society. What allowed people of so many different faiths, or of no faith, to work well together was the very profound respect that our country has always had for conscience rights. It is something that has been eroded and is of great concern to us. The government wants to define what organizations are religious and which merit protections and exemptions. The Church has a problem with that, because we see Catholic institutions as not just churches, but also schools, hospitals, clinics, charities and so many other institutions that are there not just to serve Catholics but to serve anyone regardless of their religious background, even those with no religious affiliation at all. In the face of the challenges to religious freedom, Catholics need to make their voices heard. In the present controversy over the HHS Mandate for the new Affordable Care Act health care law, the Church is seeking relief from the particular regulations that we believe violate the tenets of religious freedom. The government, a few months ago, asked for comments from the public on the Mandate. It was very consoling that almost a half million people wrote in. The government has never had that kind of response to proposed regulations. We are hoping that those recommendations and the Church's urging, and the urging of other Churches will receive a hearing from the government. We need Catholics and other people of faith to stand together so as to be able to defend our religious freedom. A very important part of advancing religious freedom is to know our own faith well. We are in this Year of Faith. From the beginning, I've said that there are two aspects of this Year of Faith. One of them is the need for Catholics to understand the teachings of the Church. Second, we want to be able to understand them in such a way that we can share how the different Catholic doctrines are very reasonable and they all are interrelated and part of a whole. I remember when Pope John Paul II, on his very first missionary trip as our Holy Father, went to Mexico. I was privileged to be at the Mass he celebrated at Puebla. There he challenged all of us in the Church to be teachers of the faith. He said we have to teach the faith about who Christ is, to teach the faith about what the Church is (as the Body of Christ), and to teach the faith about what the human person is. Historically, the Church's teachings on the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the Eucharist, the sacredness of Holy Orders, the sacraments were what caused people to attack the Church. In today's world, we are attacked less for those issues. Most of the attacks today are due to our teachings on the dignity of the human person, who has their origin and destiny in God, who is made in the image and likeness of God, and whose life is precious – all of our teachings of the Gospel of Life and the sacredness of Marriage. It's very important for us to understand the Church's teachings, which can often be parodied in the secular media sometimes and treated unsympathetically. We need to trust in God. Today's 1st reading today is the story of Abraham, who is called our father in faith. God promised Abraham would be the father of a great nation and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Abraham and his wife Sarah were very old and they had no children. Abraham obviously was wondering how this was going to happen. God challenged Abraham to have faith and Abraham had faith. Isaac, the son of the promise was born, and of course Abraham and Sarah were so pleased. God then tests Abraham's faith some more, and tells him to go and sacrifice that son - the son of the promise, the one who was going to be the father of this nation. But Abraham trusted in God, and his faith was rewarded. Our faith must lead us to trust in the Lord, to have an understanding of what the Gospel demands of discipleship are, to embrace them in our lives, and then to be witnesses to them. Part of our task as Jesus' followers is to make the Kingdom more present and to invite people to a life of discipleship. We do that, certainly, by the example of our life. Pope Francis has touched such a chord with so many people throughout the world by stressing the social gospel of the Church, and the Church's devotion to the poor and our strong commitment to social justice. Those lived teachings are a very important part of our witness about the dignity of the human person. Those teachings on human dignity must be witnessed in the way we show our concern for the poor, for the sick, for the disenfranchised, and for the persecuted. Part of the Mission of the Church is to be prophetic and to announce the challenging truths of the Gospel. All of us know the wonderful story we heard as children about the King's new clothes. The story is about a King who would go through his capital city annually and the people would praise him for his sartorial splendor and for his fantastic clothes. But one day, a wicked tailor went to the King and told him he would make for him a magical suit of clothes and that it would cost an enormous amount of money. The King was excited, so he put on this magical suit of clothes and begins to walk through the streets to receive the homage and veneration of his people. Everyone is shouting and applauding the beautiful garment that the King is wearing. However, one little child says “but, Mommy, the King has no clothes!” Sometimes, the Church's role must be like that. Everyone else will be shouting that the King's clothes are very beautiful but the Church needs to have that prophetic voice, which sometimes will cause people to become upset with us. We must believe that the Truth will make us free. Unfortunately, many people in today's world see the Truth as somehow evil, something that imposes on us, so they deny that there can be any Truth. But Jesus says, “come.” He is the “Way, the Truth and the Life.” He teaches us that the Truth does make us free. As Catholics we must seek that Truth and search for ways to share it with all those in our lives, even those that disagree with us. Our attitude as Catholics is one of gratitude for the liberty and the freedom that we enjoy in America – at the same time we want to be vigilant in protecting religious freedom that allows us to lead lives of faithful discipleship.Also, let us work with others throughout the world to make this planet to be safer for believers, particularly in those places in the world where our brothers and sisters are suffering egregiously for their fidelity to the Gospel.

Our favorite (nearly graduated) student from Notre Dame Law John Gerardi is back to give us an update on the current status of the different lawsuits against the HHS mandate. We talk about the kinds of entities that are suing and on what grounds, whether it's looking favorable or not and which religious groups have been exempted and why. Listener Questions: Michael from Tulsa, OK: Will Scientologists get an exemption for all medical treatments that go against their religion now that Priests for Life got an exemption?

Mark Newman talks with Mike Krall. They talk about the election, the Church, the HHS Mandate and what’s next.

Homily given at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 4, 2012, the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Dcn. Dan Foley, Christ the King Catholic Church. Catholic understanding is that, as a follower of Jesus, we are called, not just to belief, but to action, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Yet the government through the HHS Mandate would try to limit our freedom of religion, guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, to just worship that takes place behind church walls. In the face of this challenge, we have a responsibility to vote with the first priority being the protection of human life and the second priority being the protection of religious liberty. Key words: voting, pro-life, freedom of religion, religious liberty

Radio Wave Mejanomics November 1, 2012 - What are we to think of the HHS Mandate and Justice Roberts? How should our Christian thinking be formed? A Friend of Medjugorje explains more...

Radio Wave Mejanomics November 1, 2012 - What are we to think of the HHS Mandate and Justice Roberts? How should our Christian thinking be formed? A Friend of Medjugorje explains more...

Radio Wave Mejanomics November 1, 2012 - What are we to think of the HHS Mandate and Justice Roberts? How should our Christian thinking be formed? A Friend of Medjugorje explains more...

On this episode of the Center on Human Exceptionalism Podcast, constitutional attorney Steve O'Ban joins host David Boze to discuss the legal concerns surrounding the HHS mandate. The Obama administration’s healthcare initiative would force all religious organizations to provide their employees with free contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs, and sterilizations — regardless of any religious or ethical objections. Listen in and learn Read More › Source

On this episode of the Center on Human Exceptionalism Podcast, constitutional attorney Steve O’Ban joins host David Boze to discuss the legal concerns surrounding the HHS mandate. The Obama administration's healthcare initiative would force all religious organizations to provide their employees with free contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs, and sterilizations--regardless of any religious or ethical objections. Listen in and learn how health care reform erodes freedom of religion and U.S. constitutional rights.

Summary of today's show: Scot Landry and his guests discuss religious freedom, the HHS Mandate, and the conclusion of the Fortnight for Freedom. Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Kim Daniels, Dr. John Garvey, Dr. Angela Franks, and John Monohan Links from today's show: Today's topics:The US Conference of Catholic Bishops recognizes that our religious freedom as Americans is under threat - today, July 4th, marks the end of a Fortnight for Freedom, a time of prayer, education, and activism to assert our first most cherished liberty to our elected representatives. Our show today features four addresses on the topic of religious freedom and the "HHS Mandate," as well as a reading of the USCCB document "Our First Most Cherished Liberty." 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the program and wished all a happy 4th of July. He explained that we are now at the end of the Fortnight for Freedom. To cap it off, we'll hear addresses from Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Kim Daniels, Angela Franks, and John Garvey. Cardinal Sean opened by thanking all for listening and watching. He emphasized that today, Independence Day, we celebrate certain inalienable rights that God has given to us - one of which is our freedom of religion. The HHS Mandate the Church is fighting, Cardinal Sean continued, would violate our deepest convictions, restricting ministry and employment only to those of our own faith. Unless we work hard and speak frankly when our freedoms are threatened, Cardinal Sean said, we will lose this cherished freedom, as has happened in other parts of the world. Historically, the cardinal concluded, the USA has been a strong defender of religious freedom - we need to remember that this mandate is not a Catholic or Protestant issue, but an American issue that all citizens must speak out on. Kim Daniels echoed the Cardinal's words, reminding listeners that American Catholics are standing up for a basic American principle. She pointed out that attempts have been made to negotiate with the administration to avoid this fight, but all failed. Now, Kim said, 43 institutions, from Catholic Colleges to soup kitchens, schools to Archdioceses, are suing to keep the government from defining what a religious ministry is. The Catholic commitment to religious freedom, Kim continued, is not a partisan issue - anyone who has listened to a dinner-table argument between Catholics knows not everyone holds exactly the same views on politics. The USCCB has always maintained that affordable healthcare is a good for society, and bi-partisan consensus used to exist on it too! If anything, Kim said, it is the Obama administration who has politicized the universal health care issue by ignoring conscience protections for Catholics, both institutionally and individually. Dr. John Garvey made three points in his address. First, he said that the legal protection of religious liberty is waning - it has slowly degraded over the years, giving protection to priests but not teachers, or religious orders but not hospitals. Catholics and Catholic organizations exist to provide every citizen with services. Catholic Charities does adoptions, Dr. Garvey continued, because the Gospel tells us to care for the weak and vulnerable. Catholic schools and colleges exist to educate because the Gospel tells us to teach all nations. But even that basic mission is under attack - Dr. Garvey said that Catholic University itself would have to pay almost $2.6 million per year in penalties should it follow Church teaching and refuse to offer contraception, sterilization, and abortion services on health plans. Lastly, Dr. Garvey emphasized that the framers of the Constitution protected religious freedom because they thought it important for human flourishing and happiness. Dr. Angela Franks opened by listing what the mainstream media says the HHS mandate is about - a "Catholic war on women," contraception, the Church "imposing values" - none of this is true, Angela affirms. The issue cannot be contraception, Angela argues, because it is already ubiquitous and cheap; any woman who can afford a few lattes a month can buy birth control. The issue is not the Church forcing people to do anything, Dr. Franks continued, but rather about the government trying to force a policy of secularization on the Church. The biggest lie, Angela concluded, is that the Church is waging a war on women or is anti-woman. As a woman, she said, it offends her that Speaker Pelosi, SEcretary Sebelius, organizations like NOW or Planned Parenthood, or even the President should think they speak for all women. Angela mentioned a petition initiative about this point, located at . 2nd Segment Scot welcomed everyone back and explained that the second half of the show would be a reading of the USCCB document "Our First Most Cherished Liberty." You can access the full text at . For Scot Landry, our Producer Rick Heil, and our team of Dom Bettinelli, Karla Goncalves, and George Martell, happy Independence Day!

Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of Pro-Life Action League and Matt Yonke, PLAL Communications Director join Josh via Google+ to discuss the HHS mandate and what pro-lifers can do to stand up for religious freedom via public rallies on June 8th. Topics covered: - What is the HHS mandate? - Why should Christians be concerned about it? - Is this issue about religious liberty or contraception access? - Exactly how does the HHS Mandate violate the First Amendment? - What's being done to fight the HHS Mandate, and where does public protest fit in? - What were the results of the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally on March 23rd? - Why hold another Stand Up Rally on June 8th? - What is the next step if the Supreme Court rules against us on "Obamacare?" Related Links: - Look up the nearest rally near you: http://StandUpForReligiousFreedom.com - Learn more about Eric and Matt's work at the Pro-Life Action League: http://ProLifeAction.org - Read the full letter from Notre Dame's president to his staff about the lawsuit against "Obamacare:" http://goo.gl/sDUAM

The Bishop talks about the lawsuit being filed today by the Diocese of Joliet and other dioceses and Catholic organizations around the country against the Federal Government regarding the HHS Mandate in an effort to protected religious freedom. The Bishop talks about the need for prayer.

Pastor Jim Franklin, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Fresno and Father Larry Toschi from Our Lady of Guadalupe in Bakersfield join Josh in the studio to talk about the HHS mandate forcing religious institutions to pay for sterilizations, contraception and the abortifacient drug, "ella."

Joe started off with a typical hot button issue, that of the HHS Mandate. He challenged the mandate and those politicians involved putting it in to place. He also focused on the role of prayer for conversion, especially prayer focused on our eternal end. As usual during this Lenten season, Joe passionately encouraged the faithful […]

Fr. Peter Calabrese *Cardinal Dolan and the USCCB on Religious Freedom and Against the HHS Mandate

Fr. Leon Biernat *HHS Mandate and the Fallacies

Today’s topic: This special edition of Among Womenfeatures a discussion of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to mandate all insurance carriers to cover expenses for contraception, sterilization procedures, and drugs that may induce abortions. This violates the conscience dictates of Catholic institutions throughout the USA. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is determined to fight this and many Americans, especially Catholics, are up in arms, citing violations of religious freedoms. Today’s Guests: This episode features a conversation with Elizabeth Scalia, managing editor at Patheos, and Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor at National Review Online. What follows are important links on this subject matter that frame the issue from a Catholic perspective. Please listen, read, and share! Links for this episode: Statement from Kathleen Sebelius at the US Department of Human Service, Jan. 20 2012. (aka “HHS Mandate”) USCCB press release “The Jesus Mandate vs The Obama Mandate” – Bishop Lori Video featuring Archbishop Timothy Dolan USCCB commentary & links to send letters to Congress. The Anchoress blog — Elizabeth Scalia “The Counter-Cultural Church has a Credible Yes” – Elizabeth Scalia at First Things “Obama’s Great Gift: Clarification” – Elizabeth Scalia at First Things K-Lo at Large blog — Kathryn Jean Lopez “HHS Mandate 101” — an interview from Kathryn Lopez at National Review Online “6 Things Everyone Should Know about HHS Mandate” – USCCB press release “Permanent Preventative Care” – Fr. Dwight Longenecker Freedom of Conscience petition at the White House

Fr. Leon Biernat *HHS Mandate and Conscience Protection

Bishop Conlon talks about the Department of Health and Human Services's mandate that private health care insurance programs must include several reproductive services for women, which would allow contraception, sterilization and abortion, all of which are against the teachings of the Church. The mandate would lead to the violation of consciences of Catholics who do not believe in contraception, sterilization or abortion. Lay people need show their opposition to it.