The California Supreme Court ruled that “Catholic Charities of Sacramento is not a religious institution and as such must provide coverage of contraceptives for its workers.” Why?
…Catholic Charities does not qualify as a religious employer because it offers secular services to the public without regard for the recipients’ beliefs and without preaching about Catholic values. Catholics do not make up either a majority of its employees or a majority of the recipients of its services.
Of course this is ludicrous, so ludicrous in fact that some new derivative of the word “ludicrous” must be used to describe it. We shall say it is “ludicricious.” Aside from the ludicriciousness of the Court’s decision, I believe that Catholic charities of any kind should always, in the course of their work, preach the Gospel. Too often Catholic social justice activity looks like government service. Material needs are provided without respect to spiritual needs. Actually, I know some parishes here in Arlington where social justice is basically income redistribution. What I mean to say is that it is ludicricious for a Catholic institution to not preach the Gospel. If anything, put some pamphlets by the door for Christ’s sake! For Christ’s sake indeed.
Sal, of course you are right. Rather than appeal to the Supreme Court, they should have taken it as a wakeup call and started including evangelization as part of their charitable services.
On the other hand, if they don’t want to do that, then maybe the California Court did us all a service by calling a spade a spade.
Paul’s right that the CA Court’s decision forces Catholic Charities in CA to make a choice: give witness to Christ in word where possible as well as deed, or not be considered a religious organization. But even that won’t be legal protection for a Catholic organization to exercise its religious freedom for long.
The sexual revolution is tyrannical, intolerant master that demands that all submit to its secular-hedonist view of “the mystery of human life and the universe.” We should fully expect that Catholic dioceses and parishes will eventually be forced to provide contraception (perhaps even abortion) coverage to any employee, Catholic or otherwise, who wants it.
Sex is a liturgical act of worship, which our culture doesn’t care to admit. Either it is understood as anchoring the family as the core culture social unit, or as anchoring an individual right to have that ecstatic passion sated in whatever way the individual wants.
Thus, the autonomous orgasm is fast becoming the national sacrament, to which all people have a fundamental “mystery right” under the hedonist Nietsche-religion officially established by the US Supreme Court. The Church should enjoy her religious freedom while it lasts.
Feeding the poor *is* evangelization. It’s living the Christian life by example, which is far more powerful than words.
They could include food for the soul as well.
Eric – Is govt welfare evangelization? I mean, they are giving people money for food. What is different about Catholic Charities providing for their needs? The answer is obvious, Catholic Charities can preach with deeds and with words. CC should take every opportunity to do both!
You know it prolly would be better to establish more houses of hospitality in parishes so those in need could receive the spiritual as well as corporal works of mercy….CC often does neither.
I know, Sal — but I’m just saying that you can’t separate feeding the poor from preaching the Gospel, as long as the almsgiving is done because of Christ.