In a story on CNSnews.com it is reported that Cardinal Francis George, Arch-Bishop of Chicago is predicting that Catholic health services facilities in the arch diocese of Chicago will close within two years if the Obama administration’s oppressive rules that deny 1st Amendment protections to religious employers that oppose abortion inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception. In a recent column Cardinal George wrote that:
If you haven’t already purchased the Archdiocesan Directory for 2012, I would suggest you get one as a souvenir…On page L-3, there is a complete list of Catholic hospitals and health care institutions in Cook and Lake counties. Each entry represents much sacrifice on the part of medical personnel, administrators and religious sponsors. Each name signifies the love of Christ to people of all classes and races and religions. Two Lents from now, unless something changes, that page will be blank.
Cardinal George continued by explaining the options facing Catholic institutions:
What will happen if the HHS regulations are not rescinded? A Catholic institution, so far as I can see right now, will have one of four choices: 1) secularize itself, breaking its connection to the church, her moral and social teachings and the oversight of its ministry by the local bishop. This is a form of theft. It means the church will not be permitted to have an institutional voice in public life.* 2) Pay exorbitant annual fines to avoid paying for insurance policies that cover abortifacient drugs, artificial contraception and sterilization. This is not economically sustainable. 3) Sell the institution to a non-Catholic group or to a local government. 4) Close down.
*It is my belief that this is the outcome intended by the Obama administration.
