For Sunday, February 5, 2012

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Job 7:1-4, 6-7
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Mark 1:29-39

On Friday, January 20, the Department of Health and Human Services announced new rules requiring most health insurance plans to cover contraceptives free of charge. While churches themselves would be exempt from implementing this rule in insurance plans that cover ministers and church employees, affiliated institutions such as hospitals, colleges, and charities would not be exempt.

Catholic bishops reacted quickly and negatively to the decision. Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the USCCB, said in an interview, "We're unable to live with this."

The exemption, as defined by HHS, was construed very narrowly. Religious employers would not qualify for the exemption if they served large numbers of people of different faiths, as hospitals, educational institutions (including many parish elementary schools), and social service agencies do. On their Web site, the bishops state that under the narrow criteria established by the government, "even the ministry of Jesus and the early Christian Church would not qualify as 'religious,' because they did not confine their ministry to their co-religionists," but urged compassion for the sick and the poor, regardless of faith or creed, a position that is clearly evident in the Gospel from St. Mark proclaimed this weekend.

An article in this past Sunday's New York Times highlighted the current situation at Catholic colleges and universities. Students and health professionals struggle to comply with Catholic moral teaching while at the same time providing adequate care as defined by contemporary medical practice. It is a discussion of morality and medicine that will continue in the year ahead, and one that we should not shrink from having.

In the Gospel for this weekend, people sought out Jesus looking for healing after he had cured many of the sick in Capernaum. With our strong tradition of hospitals and health care facilities, people still come seeking healing from the church today.

How we uphold the values of life in the public square is one of the great discussions of our time, a challenge that rests with every Catholic who votes. Neither political party adequately upholds the Gospel of life. We must acknowledge that reality, and seek to challenge both Democrats and Republicans on their ideology.

When we confront politicians, there may be days when we feel like Job, who says in Sunday's first reading, "I have been assigned months of misery." But we cannot give up raising the call to protect the unborn, the vulnerable, the immigrant, the elderly, the prisoner, indeed, anyone who is powerless. Like St. Paul, we do this for the sake of the Gospel.

The selection from Mark's Gospel this weekend reminds us that our love and compassion are not limited to just a select few. Jesus made it clear to his disciples that he was not going to cure the sick and drive out demons only in Capernaum. He went forward throughout the whole of Galilee.

We cannot let interpretations or proposed rules impede our vocation of caring for everyone. As Catholics we must find a way to do what we are called to do for the sake of the Gospel.

Paul Michaels

PRAYER

God of mercy,
your Son healed the sick and drove out demons.
Fill us with your Spirit
and increase our zeal for the Gospel
that we may serve our brothers and sisters in their need
and bring the good news of salvation to all.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

NOTICES

THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK
Celebrated on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, the World Day of the Sick lifts up for consideration the corporal work of mercy of care for the ill and suffering. Pope Benedict's message for the 2012 celebration can be found at: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/sick/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20111120_world-day-of-the-sick-2012_en.html.

ACTION ALERT FROM THE USCCB
The bishops of the United States are urging Catholics to contact their members of Congress regarding the recently released HHS mandate to include sterilization, contraceptives, and abortion-inducing drugs in health plans. Information for parishioners, including a video from Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, can be found at: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm. Include this information in your parish bulletin for the next few weeks.

FORMING CONSCIENCES FOR FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP
Bulletin articles, podcasts, Scripture study, lesson plans, discussion guides, and worship ideas are all available from the USCCB in this election year. Plan now how you will use these resources in your parish in this election year. You can access all of these items at: http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/.