Brethren: Christ is amongst us! He is, and always shall be!
The bishops of our sister Eastern Orthodox Church have joined us in rejecting the arbitrary, tyrannical mandate levied by the Obama Administration against religious-based institutions. Here’s what they said:
Record of Protest Against the Infringement of Religious Liberty by the Department of Health and Human Services
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, which is comprised of the 65 canonical Orthodox bishops in the United States, Canada and Mexico, join their voices with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and all those who adamantly protest the recent decision by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and call upon all the Orthodox Christian faithful to contact their elected representatives today to voice their concern in the face of this threat to the sanctity of the Church’s conscience.
In this ruling by HHS, religious hospitals, educational institutions, and other organizations will be required to pay for the full cost of contraceptives (including some abortion-inducing drugs) and sterilizations for their employees, regardless of the religious convictions of the employers.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. This freedom is transgressed when a religious institution is required to pay for “contraceptive services” including abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization services that directly violate their religious convictions. Providing such services should not be regarded as mandated medical care. We, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, call upon HHS Secretary Sebelius and the Obama Administration to rescind this unjust ruling and to respect the religious freedom guaranteed all Americans by the First Amendment.
I thank the Triune God and the Ever-blessed Theotókos for the courageous, prophetic stance taken by the Orthodox bishops against so patent tyranny. Theirs is another reminder to the Obama Administration that Caesar is not enthroned in our altars.
- Hat tip to: Why I am Catholic.