By Judie Brown
Jesus said to His disciples: “They will expel you from the synagogues, and indeed the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is doing a holy service to God. They will do these things because they have never known either the Father or me.” – John 16:2-3
The latest Congressional effort to silence Christians in the public square is known as the Do No Harm Act (H.R. 1450), introduced by Catholic Democrat Congressman Joseph Kennedy III. The bill would effectively “protect civil rights and otherwise prevent meaningful harm to third parties” by those who believe in God and act as Christians. In other words, the proposal would “gut the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by removing religious liberty protections that result in ‘harm’ to others.”
It does not take much to figure out what that “harm” constitutes in the eyes of those who embrace the culture of death. The bill has been praised by the National Abortion Federation, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Planned Parenthood among others. Why? Because those who object to providing certain services based on their religious beliefs create potential harm to abortion and contraceptive customers.
Frankly, this is malarkey in its purest form. But make no mistake, the 107 cosponsors of this bill are dead serious.
You have to wonder if this why a recent article entitled “Preparing Medical Professionals Who Reject Planned Parenthood” reports that many Catholic medical schools have closed, leaving those who want training in medicine from the Catholic healthcare perspective with few choices.
About this, Father Robert McTeigue, SJ has written:
An intelligent and diligent Catholic can become as skilled and accomplished in medicine as anyone else. The difference is that well-formed Catholics in medicine will see their work as an extension of Christ the Healer. They can care for bodies and souls in a way that no government program or federal regulator can. Frequently, well-formed Catholic healthcare providers will be the last line of defense for those who can be crushed by bad medicine and bad law. If faithful Catholics do not form and support young Catholics to be faithful Catholic doctors, then human dignity and life will be put at risk, and God’s sovereignty over life and death will be mocked and scorned.
We need to work together to ensure that faithful Catholic doctors will not become, in that unfortunate phrase, “safe, legal and rare.”
Among the many resources that Catholic physicians and those pursuing a career in medicine have is the Catholic Medical Association and its program The Holy Alliance. The many opportunities available offer hope and encouragement to Catholics interested in devoting their lives to being the best Catholics doctors they can be. And as our culture steeps itself in efforts to stigmatize people of faith, we all need to work together to ensure protection of our own faith and affirm one another.
The second and more cunning frontal attack on us comes from within. It is waged by those who claim to be Catholic while they do all within their power to cripple the Church by deceiving the public into believing you can be both Catholic and pro-abortion.
Matthew Schmitz, senior editor of First Things, opines: “If Catholics were barred from public office, our politics might be greatly improved.” He writes this after examining the damage pro-abortion Catholic elected officials have caused to the Church, the electorate, and most egregious of all, the babies. He continues: “If every Catholic were removed from Congress tomorrow, the unborn would have less cause for fear; if the Senate and House were suddenly purged, the defenders of life would enjoy better odds against their enemies. Overturning Roe v Wade, passing a federal ban on abortion, enacting a constitutional amendment defending life—all these would be within easier reach.”
Amen! What this proves to me is that whether the attacks on people of faith are coming from those who propose laws like the spurious “Do No Harm” act or the Catholics-in-name-only who vote to kill the preborn as often as they can, we must remain steadfast and strong, standing in solidarity with one another and committed to truth.
Suppressing people of faith, whether it is attempted by legislative fiat or the devil’s manipulations of abortion devotees, will not prevail. The Lord has promised us: (Matthew 28:20) “I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.”