While acknowledging HHS mandates (i.e., those forcing employers to cover contraceptives and abortifacient "contraceptives"), the New York Times tells us that the White House is SUPPOSEDLY considering an expansion of the religious exemption. As per Russell Shaw, a contemporary persecution of Christians has begun, but it is unlikely "to become a bloody one....It will be a tight-lipped campaign of secularist inspiration in which the coercive power of the state is brought to bear on church-related institutions to act against conscience or go out of business."

All Catholics need to take a serious look at our "Catholic" health care systems. As per health care law expert, Professor Leonard J. Nelson, III, "compliance with the ERDs [The USCCB's Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services] has been uneven when it comes to contraception and sterilization. Typically, obstetrician-gynecologists practicing in Catholic hospitals and physician office buildings owned by Catholic hospitals provide prescriptions for contraceptives to their patients" (p. 53). Professor Nelson goes on to discuss how some Catholic health "systems have entered into arrangements to provide services such as direct sterilizations and abortion referrals....The existence of such arrangements increases the risk of scandal and could embolden those who favor a mandate requiring all hospitals...to provide a full range of [so-called] reproductive services" (p. 102).

There are six Catholic hospitals operating within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia:

• Holy Redeemer


• Mercy Fitzgerald (part of the Mercy Health System, which is part of Catholic Health East)


• Mercy Philadelphia (part of the Mercy Health System, which is part of Catholic Health East)


• Mercy Suburban (part of the Mercy Health System, which is part of Catholic Health East)


• Nazareth (part of the Mercy Health System, which is part of Catholic Health East)


• St. Mary Medical Center (part of Catholic Health East )

Of physicians listed in the Philadelphia Catholic hospitals' online directories, I am only able to find one gynecologist or ob/gyn specialist who is also to be found among NFP-only medical professionals in Pennsylvania (Note: I would be delighted to learn that I overlooked someone.). Of physicians listed in the Philadelphia Catholic hospitals' online directories, I am able to find at least one abortionist!

As per Professor Nelson, "any argument in favor of exemption from laws requiring a hospital to provide these services may be substantially undermined by the fact that the Catholic hospital is already, in some fashion, involved in either providing those services...or involved in partnerships with entities providing such services" (pp. 132, 137).

With regard to Our Savior and our need to speak uncomfortable truths, Elizabeth Scalia recently reminded us: "Being himself All Truth, dishonesty in the guise of niceness could not serve Him."