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NEWSLETTER FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI

Readers should watch wwww.thecatholictelegraph.com and the E-Pistle in coming weeks for information about national plans for the two week-long effort to urge the Federal Government to rescind the HHS contraceptive mandate. There will be a slate of activities in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and spiritual guidance for prayer during the observance -- which will run from June 20 to July 4, the Independence Day holiday. For more information, watch this space and The Catholic Telegraph website. Please notify the CT of any activities or events you have planned for the Fortnight by emailing strosley@catholiccincinnati.org.

Archbishop Schnurr reacts to legal action in HHS mandate

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

On Monday, May 21, a total of 43 Catholic dioceses, schools and universities, health systems, and charitable organizations filed lawsuits against the federal agencies responsible for the mandate requiring religious institutions and others to provide insurance coverage for activities contrary to their religious convictions.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is not a party to these lawsuits, nor is it necessary for every diocese to join the suits in order for them to be effective. The various plaintiffs reflect a broad cross-section of Catholic institutions, and together they represent the wide variety of issues, impacts, economic consequences, and divergent facts that exist among Catholic organizations nationwide. As Archbishop of Cincinnati, I wish to voice my support for this litigation and my gratitude to the leadership of the institutions involved.

The Church did not seek this fight or its timing; the federal government did. Under the regulations announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year, almost all employers will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies. There is only a narrow exemption for certain organizations that the government deems sufficiently religious. This is an unprecedented attack by the government on the freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been seeking relief from this mandate since it was first discussed in 2010. Unfortunately, talks with the White House and a bi-partisan legislative effort were not successful. HHS finalized its rule “without change” on February 15. A promised “accommodation” in reality would not address the central issue. Litigation, therefore, became the only way left to fight for our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion.

Let us be clear that it is not only the rights of Catholics that are threatened by the HHS mandate. As many other Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders have recognized, every religious organization and every individual should be concerned that the federal government believes it has the right to force its citizens to violate their conscience.

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr Archbishop of Cincinnati

FOUR ORDAINED -- Four men were ordained priests by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr May 19. With the new priests shown here are Vocations Director Dr. Kyle Schnipple, Fr. Jon-Paul Bevak, Fr. Matthew J. Robben, Auciliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer, Archbishop Schnurr, Father Marc Soellner, Father Dan P. Hunt and the Rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Fr. Ben O’Cinnsealaigh.

“GoupthethealtarofGod,theGodofourgladnessandjoy…”Withanhonorguardofcaped

andplumedKnightsofColumbusliningthecenteraisleofSt.PeterinChainsCathedralSaturdaymorning,fourmen,having

completedtheirstudiesatMountSt.Mary’sSeminary,were

escortedtothesanctuary,wheretheywouldreceivethesacramentthatconAirmstheirlinktothe

Airstapostles.“Raiseupthecupofsalvation,andcallonthenameoftheLord…”

OrganistBlakeCallahanaccompaniedtheAthenaeumChoraleunderthedirectionofAnthonyJ.DiCellointheprocessionalsingingofPsalm43.FollowingThuriferEricWood,CruciferBrianPhelpsandAcolytesJamesRiehleandAndrewCordonniercamethevestedpriestsofTheAthenaeumofOhio‐‐thearchdiocesanseminary‐‐includingRector,FatherBenedictD.O’Cinnsealaigh,andpriestsofthearchdiocese.ThecandidatesincludedJon‐PaulBevakofSt.JosephTheProvider

ParishinCampbellandOldSaintMary’sParishinCincinnati;DanielParickHunt,alsoofOldSt,Mary’s;MatthewJosephJohnRobbinofSaintJosephParish,Northbend;andMarcDennisSoellner,SaidAndrewparish,Milford.Immediatelyfollowingthecandidates,whowerewearingthevestmentsofdeacons,,wereAuxiliaryBishopJosephBinzerandtheOrdainingPrelate,ArchbishopofCincinnatiDennisM.Schnurr.IntheGospelreadingfromMatthew,thementobeordainedandthefamily,friendsandothersinthenearlyfullCathedralwereremindedoftheessenseoftheroletheywouldplayintheyearsahead:“Jesuscalledthemtogetherandsaid,‘YouknowthattherulersoftheGentileslorditoverthem,andtheirhighofAicialsexerciseauthorityoverthem.Notsowithyou.Instead,whoeverwantstobecomegreatamongyoumustbeyourservant,andwhoeverwantstobeAirstmustbeyourslave­­justastheSonofMandidnotcometobeserved,buttoserve,andtogivehislifeasaransomformany’”Thefourmenwerecalled,onebyone,todeclaretheirreadinesstobeordainedandthenFather

O’CinnsealaighpresentedthecandidatestotheArchbishopandtestiAiedtotheirworthiness.ArchbishopSchnurrannouncedhisconsenttoordainthecandidatesandleadthecongregationinaroundofapplause.Inhishomily,thearchbishopinstructedthecandidatestobeservantsofthepeopleinthespiritoftheGospelofMatthew.Healsotoldthemofthejoyoftheirvocation,encouragedthemtosanctifythepeopleandthankedthefamiliesofthefourmen“forsharingyoursonsandbrothers”withtheChurch.“Youstillhavemuchtodiscoverandlearn,”hetoldthecandidates.Followingthehomily,thecandidateseachprostratedthemselvesbeforethearchbishop,renewingtheirpromisesofobedienceandrespectto“thearchbishopandhissuccessors.”Followingthechantingofalitanyofsupplication,thearchbishop,inatraditionasoldastheChurchitself,laidhishandsoneachofthecandidatesinsilence,conferringaministrythatcametothemfromJesusChristthroughthearchbishopinadirectlinefromtheoriginalapostles.TheconcelebratingpriestsPleaseseeOrdained,nextpage.

4 men join ranks of archdiocesan priests

thendidthesame.Afteraprayerofpraiseandthanksforthegiftoftheministry,thennewlyordainedpriestswerevestedinthestoleandchasuble,thegarmentsoftheireucharisticofAice.ThatwasfollowedbytheanointingoftheirheadsandhandswithholychrismduringwhichanAntiphonandPsalm110waschanted:“Aprincefromthedayofyourbirthontheholymountains;“fromthewombbeforethedawnIbegotyou.“TheLordhasswornanoathhewillnotchange.“’Youareapriestforever,apriestlikeMelchizedekofold.’”Thenewlyordainedpriestswerepresentedwiththegiftsofbreadandwine.BringingthegiftstothesanctuarywereMrs.MariEllenBevak,Mrs.MargaretHunt,AnthonyRobbenandMrs.ShirleySoellner.FollowingtheconcelebratedoffertoryandEucharisticrites,theArchbishopannouncedthenewpriests’Airstassignments:FatherMatthewJ.Robben–faculty,ChaminadeJulienneHighSchool,DaytonwhileresidingatSt.Peter,HuberHts.;FatherJon‐PaulBevak–faculty,LaSalleHighSchoolwhileresidingatOldSt.Mary’s;FatherMarcD.Soellner–ParochialVicar–ColdwaterClusterwhichincludesSaintAnthony,SaintAnthony;HolyTrinity,Coldwater;SaintMary,Philothea;FatherDanielP.Hunt–ParochialVicar–PetersburgRegionwhichincludesSaintJoseph,Wapakoneta;ImmaculateConception,Botkins;St.Lawrence,Rhine.FollowingtheannouncementArchbishopSchnurraskedthateachofthenewlyordainedpriestsgranthimtheirAirstblessing.Ashekneltinthesanctuary,eachofthefourmenindividuallyconferredablessing.Thearchbishopthenconferredhissolemnblessinganddismissedtheassembly.Theclergyandnewlyordainedpriests,allbeamingandsmiles,marchedoutoftheCathedral.

Ordained WASHINGTON – Forty-three Catholic dioceses, schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other institutions filed suit in federal court May 21 to stop three government agencies from implementing a mandate that would require them to cover contraceptives and sterilization in their health plans.

“Through this lawsuit, plaintiffs do not seek to impose their religious beliefs on others,” said one of the suits, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana by the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, diocesan Catholic Charities, St. Anne Home and Retirement Community, Franciscan Alliance, University of St. Francis and Our Sunday Visitor.

“They simply ask that the government not impose its values and policies on plaintiffs, in direct violation of their religious beliefs,” it added.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, whose archdiocese is among the plaintiffs, said the lawsuits were “a compelling display of the unity of the church in defense of religious liberty” and “a great show of the diversity of the church’s ministries that serve the common good and that are jeopardized by the mandate.”

“We have tried negotiations with the administration and legislation with the Congress — and we’ll keep at it — but there’s still no fix,” the cardinal said. “Time is running out and our valuable ministries and fundamental rights hang in the balance, so we have to resort to the courts now.”

Cardinal Dolan also is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is not a party to the lawsuits.

Catholic organizations have objected to the contraceptive mandate since it was announced last Aug. 1 by Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Unless they are subject to a narrow religious exemption or have a grandfathered health plan, employers will be required to pay for sterilizations and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, as part of their health coverage beginning as soon as Aug. 1, 2012.

In all, 12 lawsuits were filed simultaneously May 21 in various U.S. district courts around the country. The defendants in each case were Sebelius; Labor Secretary Hilda Solis; and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, along with their departments.

Erin Shields, HHS director of communications for health care, told Catholic News Service May 21 that the department cannot comment on pending litigation.

In addition to the Archdiocese of New York and Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, the dioceses involved are the archdioceses of Washington and St. Louis and the dioceses of Rockville Centre, N.Y.; Erie, Pa.; Pittsburgh; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; Jackson, Miss.; Biloxi, Miss.; Springfield, Ill.; and Joliet, Ill. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which provides medical benefits to more than 1,100 Catholic institutions and approximately 10,000 employees in the state, also is a plaintiff

Catholic universities joining in the lawsuits included the University of Notre Dame, The Catholic University of America and Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, as well as the University of St. Francis in Indiana.

“This filing is about the freedom of a religious organization to live its mission, and its significance goes well beyond any debate about contraceptives,” he said. “For if we concede that the government can decide which religious organizations are sufficiently religious to be awarded the freedom to follow the principles that define their mission, then we have begun to walk down a path that ultimately leads to the undermining of those institutions.”

Others filing suit include a Catholic cemeteries association, an agency that serves the deaf, health care and social-services organizations, and Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

Our Sunday Visitor, a national Catholic newspaper based in Huntington, Ind., said in an editorial that it “stands proudly with our fellow Catholic apostolates and with our bishops in resisting this challenge.”

The newspaper asked readers “to stand with us – in charity, praying first and foremost for conversions of heart; in civility, arguing the facts of this case without recourse to bitter partisanship or political rhetoric; and in solidarity, knowing that whatever sacrifices we bear and whatever challenges we endure, we are only doing what is our responsibility as American citizens practicing our faith in the public square.”

Each of the lawsuits uses similar wording to make its case and each asks for a jury trial.

43 Catholic entities join 12 lawsuitsto challenge HHS insurance mandate

HHS Mandate information

For a thorough discussion of the latest developments on the HHS Contraceptives Mandate, please reference the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the April 11 “Our First, Most C h e r i s h e d F r e e d o m ” s t a t e m e n t . h t t p : / /www.usccb.org. On that same page, you will find directions on how to get involved, suggested prayers and directions on how to reach out to public officials on this most grievous threat to the First Amendment’s f r e e d o m o f r e l i g i o u s guarantee. Also on that page are thought-provoking related articles, a complete synopsis of the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of all human life and answers to frequently asked questions about the issue. Another helpful USCCB w e b p a g e i s h t t p : / /www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/rel igious-l iberty/c o n s c i e n c e - p r o t e c t i o n /resources-on-conscience-protection.cfm Watch for more information on t he “Fo r tn igh t f o r Freedom” called for by the bishops for June 21 through July 4. There will be a special effort during that two-week period to bring the religious freedom issue to the attention of the public through various activities and observances.

Archdiocesan Calendar Gleanings

Join other women from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, for a morning of women’s fellowship and prayer at Our Lady of Good Hope Church, Miamisburg. The morning will include a potluck breakfast and a talk by Sister Mattie Sterner, OP, on the Sacraments. For more information, contact Beth Allaire at sballaire@att.net or 937-384-0982.

Memorial Day services will be held on Sunday, May 27, at 8 a.m. Mass at St. Michael Church in Ft. Loraine. Cemetery services, with the band, will be conducted as follows: 9 a.m. at St. Michael Old Cemetery (behind church); 9:20 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Newport; 9:45 a.m. at St. Michael New Cemetery (St. Rt. 66) and 11:45 a.m. at St. Patrick Cemetery. The annual Memorial Day Field Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery, honoring those who have died in our f a m i l i e s , o u r p a r i s h e s , a n d o u r Archdiocese, will be held at 11 a.m. Memorial Day, May 28, on the Priest Circle at the cemetery. Father Benedict O’Cinnsealaigh, president/rector of the Athenaeum of Ohio/ Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, will be the celebrant. If it rains, Mass will be held at Good Shepherd Church. For more information, call the cemetery at 513-489-0300. The Caregivers Assistance Network (CAN) of Catholic Charities SouthWest Ohio is holding a free workshop on “Legal and Financial Planning for Long Term Care” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at the Madisonville Recreation Center. For more information, contact Margaret Iannaci at 513-929-4483 or miannaci@catholiccharitiesswo.org

The a cappella choir Regina Caeli Schola Cantorum will join forces with the Dominican novices from St. Gertrude’s parish to present a devotional concert to the Blessed Mother at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood. The program will be a sung meditation on the Fifth Glorious Mystery, the Coronation of Mary. The choir will be singing 10

musical settings of the Ave Maria, presented chronologically from ancient chant to the 20th century. Readings and meditations from scripture and the saints will be interspersed. A free-will donation will be accepted.

A pregnancy and parenthood panel will be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at Maria Stein Shrine in the Gast Gallery. Topics will include infertility, adoption, birth, and family.

The Hamilton Service Center of Catholic Charities SouthWest Ohio is beginning two new eight-week Parenting Education Classes. One class is for Parents of Little Ones (up to 5 years of age) and will be held on Thursdays nights from May 31 to Aug. 2. The other class is for Parents of School Aged Children (6-12) and will be held on Monday nights from June 4 to July 23. Both classes will be held at the Catholic Charities Hamilton Service Center, 140 North Fifth Street, Hamilton. There is no fee for Butler County residents and a one-time fee for non-residents ($60 for single; $80 for couples). To register, call 513-863-6129.

A healing service will be held in the Hilvert Center at St. Ignatius Church, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, sponsored by Lighthouse Renewal Center. Come experience Jesus’ healing power.

Catholic Charities SouthWest Ohio will hold a free Life Issues Workshop, “Making Ends Meet When Unemployment is Gone,” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (Heritage Hall West) in Anderson Township. There is no fee. Contact Sandy K e i s e r a t 5 1 3 . 2 4 1 . 7 7 4 5 o r skeiser@catholiccharitiesswo.org .The Sisters of the Precious Blood are hosting a free “Come and See” vocation retreat for women 18-45 who are interested in learning more about life as a consecrated woman. The retreat will be held at Salem Heights, 4960 Salem Ave., Dayton from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 9. Make reservations by June 5.www.PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org