Since posting Bishop Stika’s letter to the Diocese of Knoxville that states his opposition to the recent Health and Human Services mandate that will require certain Catholic institutions to provide insurance coverage for services such as sterilizations and certain abortion drugs, I have been engaged with many of my friends and acquaintances on the issue of religious liberty. While I see this recent government mandate as a clear violation of religious liberty for Catholics (and other Americans for that matter), many of those I have been in conversation with do not.

Let me take a stab at explaining why I feel this is one of the most blatant attacks on religious liberty I have witnessed in my lifetime. The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads,

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In the case of the current HHS mandate that certain Catholic institutions, including hospitals, universities and social services must by August 2013 begin providing insurance to cover drugs and procedures that are in opposition to the moral teaching of the Catholic faith violates the First Amendment’s law against the prohibition of the free exercise of religion. The argument against this that I have heard most frequently is that somehow it is not the federal government that is violating the freedom of Catholics to hold their religious beliefs, but rather the Catholic Church that is seeking to limit the freedom of its employees. I have a difficult time with this logic. You see, it is not a recent thing that the Church opposes procedures and drugs that cause the death of children, or ones that prevent life. This religious belief has been held for 2,000 years. This is not difficult to discover with a minimal amount of research. It is not a secret the Church supports the cause of life. It is also not a secret that there are many who hold a strong opposition to this belief and feel that the Church is very much in error and should change. The fact is that the Church cannot change its mind on the sacredness and dignity of life. And so when our government orders the Church to provide the means for its employees to engage in actions that are opposed to life, it has no choice but to oppose that law, and if necessary to suffer as a consequence of not obeying it.

Several people have mentioned to me that because many Catholics do not respect the Church teaching on contraception that this somehow diminishes our ability to stand behind the teaching. History tells me this is a poor argument. Whenever I hear the “majority rules” argument when it comes to the Church I think back to the Arian controversy of the Fourth Century. For several hundred years the majority of Christians believed incorrectly that Jesus was not divine, but simply some sort of super human. They were not correct simply by the fact that they were in the majority. Those who stood firm in the Orthodox belief the Jesus is the second person of the Trinity suffered for their steadfast belief. We should expect no less.

Many have argued with me that because institutions like Catholic hospitals do not primarily employ or serve Catholics that they are not really connected to the Church. I think these people overlook the fact that the reason we have Catholic hospitals is that Jesus told us to care for the sick, the reason we have Catholic schools and universities is that Jesus told us to instruct the ignorant and the reason we have organizations like Catholic Charities is that Jesus told us to care for the poor and marginalized. The Catholic Church has been doing these things far longer than the United States has been in existence. We do it because of the Gospel.

Regular readers of this blog probably have noticed that I tend to shy away from writing about anything that smacks of politics. In this case I am speaking out not as one who wants to convince you to support any particular candidate or party, but as a person who is concerned both for the future of my religion and my country. The freedoms which are defined in the First Amendment were won with the blood of many Americans. They have been defended by the blood of many Americans. What’s more, the faith that I hold dearly was strengthened by the blood of many martyrs and defended by the lives and sufferings of many confessors. Now is the time for us to join with those who have gone before us to assure that this basic freedom is not lost. While I freely admit that our Constitution is meant to defend those who vehemently disagree with the teachings of my Church and that it is there to make sure that any religion cannot impose its beliefs upon those who do not share those beliefs, I just as strongly adhere to the fact that it allows those who follow a particular religious tradition to be free to do so without interference from the government.

I do not want to give the impression that I feel Catholics should be afforded more rights than those in our country who practice any other religion or no religion at all. The Second Vatican Council affirmed this belief in its Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae:

This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.

The council further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right.

It is in accordance with their dignity as persons-that is, beings endowed with reason and free will and therefore privileged to bear personal responsibility-that all men should be at once impelled by nature and also bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth, once it is known, and to order their whole lives in accord with the demands of truth However, men cannot discharge these obligations in a manner in keeping with their own nature unless they enjoy immunity from external coercion as well as psychological freedom. Therefore the right to religious freedom has its foundation not in the subjective disposition of the person, but in his very nature. In consequence, the right to this immunity continues to exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it and the exercise of this right is not to be impeded, provided that just public order be observed.

Both the Catholic Church and the Constitution of the United States uphold the dignity of the human person through freedom of religion. How do you define this freedom? Do you feel religious freedom is strong in our country or in danger? I welcome your comments.

Upon returning from his Ad Limina visit this week, Bishop Richard Stika released this statement concerning the recent government mandate which would require the Catholic Church to provide health insurance benefits that include drugs and procedures that are in opposition to its belief.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you having just returned from my Ad Limina visit with Pope Benedict XVI who shared deeply the concerns that I and all the U.S. bishops have regarding a matter that calls for our steadfast prayer, solidarity and action. On January 20th, the federal government cast aside the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and essentially stripped Catholics and citizens of any faith of our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom — our religious liberty.

In a decision that the Obama Administration calls “fair and balanced,” the mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services forces almost all employers, including Catholic employers, to include sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception in their employees’ health services. Additionally, almost all health insurers will be forced to include these “services” in their health policies. And regardless of a person’s conscience, almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of this Administration’s polices. 

This ruling will have dire consequences upon Catholics nationwide and the millions who are ministered to and served through our Catholic schools, higher education institutions, hospitals and charities. It is these that bear the name “Catholic,” founded as expressions of our Christian witness as disciples of Christ, that the Administration now deems to be secular in nature and subject to their manipulation. In so ruling, Catholics are compelled to either violate their consciences or to drop health coverage for employees and to suffer the penalties for doing so.

Let us not be deceived. What we are witnessing, as Pope Benedict XVI stated, is the drastic shift from “religious freedom to a mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.” This shift is but a thinly disguised way of silencing the moral witness of Catholics in protecting the sanctity and dignity of every human life, in defending marriage and family from attacks upon it, and from sowing the seeds of our faith through our works of mercy. It is an attempt to put a bushel basket over the light of our Catholic faith (Luke 11:33) and to keep it a private matter to be expressed only inside a church, and even then with limits. 

And so I join with my brother bishops throughout our nation in emphatically stating that we cannot and will not comply with this unjust law! It is time for Catholics to act.

But no call to action is first without a call to prayer. And so I ask you to join me in prayer and fasting to ask God for the strength and the wisdom to fight this unjust law. I ask you to also contact Congress and ask them to reverse this decision and enact legislation that protects the rights of conscience. You can do so through the U.S. bishops webpage at www.usccb.org/conscience.

With my blessings and prayers for all of you and your loved ones.

Sincerely in Christ,

The Most Reverend Richard F. Stika, Bishop of Knoxville. 

Update: I will continue to share posts from other bloggers and new sources that seem relevant to this issue at The Expanded Kingdom which can be accessed from the sidebar of this blog or by clicking here.

KNOXVILLE—Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville has issued the following statement in regard to the sentencing of William Casey to 35 to 40 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree sexual misconduct and two counts of aggravated rape. On Nov. 23 the sentence was handed down in Sullivan County Criminal Court in Blountville.

“Our primary concern has always been for Warren Tucker, who brought Mr. Casey’s crimes to our attention,” Bishop Stika said. “We pray and hope that this sentencing brings Mr. Tucker healing, and we pray for all who may have been harmed by sexual abuse.”

On April 14, 2010, Mr. Tucker came to the diocese to tell diocesan officials that during the 1970s he had been sexually abused by Mr. Casey, who at that time was a priest of the Diocese of Nashville serving in East Tennessee.

Bishop Stika immediately began an investigation into the allegations and notified the district attorney offices and law enforcement officials in Greene and Sullivan Counties, in keeping with diocesan policy on sexual misconduct.

Bishop Stika met with Mr. Casey that afternoon, and he admitted there was credibility to these accusations. At that time the bishop issued a “suspension decree” to Mr. Casey. This permanently suspended him from priestly ministry, permanently removed his priestly faculties, and decreed that he could not present himself as a priest—for example, could not use the clerical title “Father,” wear clerical garb, or act in any priestly capacity.

The following morning the diocese held a press conference to publicly apologize to Mr. Tucker and to invite any other possible victims to come forward. Bishop Stika then sent a letter to all parishes that week to be read at all weekend Masses to explain to the faithful about the tragedy that had occurred to Mr. Tucker and to ask for their prayers and assistance in reaching out to anyone who may have been hurt.

In the weeks following, the diocese held four healing sessions in the areas of the diocese where Mr. Casey had served in order to reach out to any other potential victims and help all those who were hurting to begin the healing process.

The diocese has cooperated fully with civil authorities since Mr. Casey’s actions came to light and will continue to do so.

More information on the Diocese of Knoxville’s policies and procedures to safeguard children and vulnerable adults may be found online at http://dioknox.org (click “Child protection”).

Statement regarding possible additional victims

As we have said from the time that we learned of the first allegations against Bill Casey, we suspect that there may be more victims, but we do not know who they might be. We have encouraged anyone who might be a victim to come forward to both the diocese and to civil authorities. That statement has been widely reported in the media throughout East Tennessee several times, and is of course available on our website, but we would appreciate any assistance in helping to reach out to any other potential victims.

Experts in counseling victims who were abused long ago tell us that it would be highly inappropriate for us or anyone else to speculate who might have been a victim and attempt to make direct contact with those individuals. We have, however, taken steps to make it widely known that help with counseling and pastoral outreach is open to any victims who might like to come forward, no matter how long ago that abuse might have taken place.

Bill Casey was removed from ministry as soon as we learned of allegations against him and he will never again function as a priest. Our efforts to support police investigations into his past and our cooperation with the legal process were instrumental in securing criminal convictions against him. This can be verified through the prosecuting district attorney in Sullivan County (Barry Staubus).  Some legal processes continue, and we will continue to support those as well.

As soon as Mr. Tucker brought his allegations forward, Bishop Stika immediately began an investigation into the allegations and notified the district attorney offices and law enforcement officials in Greene and Sullivan Counties, in keeping with diocesan policy on sexual misconduct.

Bishop Stika

Yesterday when the idea for today’s earlier post began forming, I made a call to deacon and photographer extraordinaire, Patrick Murphy-Racey to see if he had any good photos from Saturday’s ordination. Being ahead of my normal writing schedule, I finished the post before receiving the photos this afternoon. That being said, this picture of Bishop Stika asking for and receiving Fr. Doug’s blessing is pretty amazing and merits a bonus post for the day.

If you would like to see more of Deacon Pat’s great photos of the diocesan events this weekend, check out his blog here.

A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to attend at lunch at our bishop’s house for the Hispanic leadership in our diocese. One of the questions posed to the bishop by one of the young leaders in attendance was why Cardinals of the Church wear red. Bishop Stika answered by explaining that Cardinals make an oath that they will give their lives in order to defend the faith. The red represents the martyrdom they are committed to if necessary.

Today as I put down the red line around the halo of my most recent icon, I couldn’t help but think of our conversation about martyrdom. The red line in iconography represents the beginning of the icon. Even though there has already been quite a bit of work before this line is drawn, it is all just preparation for the beginning of the journey. I know several people who are in the process of preparing to enter into full communion with the Church. There was much preparation that took place in each of their lives before they ever set foot in one of our church buildings and there is much more preparation ahead. The ultimate goal once they “officially” begin their journey as Christians, however, is that they will be committed to the same color red that our Cardinals are, that their faith is strong enough that even if it is necessary to shed blood for it, they will be willing to do so in testimony to what they believe to be true.

May we all aspire to have a faith that embraces Cardinal Red.

Yesterday at our meeting of the priests of the diocese our bishop came through on his promise of an autographed Stan Musial baseball. Bishop Stika is a huge Cardinals fan and a friend of Stan the Man. I was, and still am, pretty excited. Stan Musial is one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball hitting 1815 hits at home and 1815 hits away. How’s that for consistency!

Perhaps this will bring some better luck to my fantasy team, the Bourgeois Pigs, who are currently stuck in 7th place. Thanks Bishop Stika!

Press Conference, The Diocese of Knoxville, April 15, 2010, Bishop Richard F. Stika from patrick murphy-racey on Vimeo.

Though it is never uplifting to hear about a priest sexually abusing a child, Bishop Stika’s response to last week’s revelations has given me even more confidence in his leadership in our diocese. In this 26 minute press conference he did everything that I have wanted to see a bishop do when addressing these cases over the years. So often the church has seemed to take a defensive position and one of self protection at the expense of victims. Many times we have spent too much time consulting with lawyers and not enough time listening to victims.

It saddens me to know of more abuse that has occurred in our Church, but I am heartened to see us attempting to help someone to heal and to be repentant for our sins.