
DE SANCTITATE
Encyclical
regarding the Supreme
Court Decision on Health Care
To the Bishops, Regular Clergy, and the Faithful of the Anglican Rite
Roman Catholic Church, greetings and Apostolic blessings.
1. Of the sanctity of human life there can be no question. While
society has grown in many ways, recent periods in some ways
demonstrate a great lack of growth with regard to the sanctity of
life. Secularization of society and a general malaise regarding
religion, accompanied by great squabbling and disharmony within
Christ's Church have made it all the more difficult for people to
life a God-centered life according to Sacred Scripture and the norms,
customs, devotions, and traditions of the Church.
2. On this day the Supreme Court of the United States of America
voted five to four to uphold the Constitutionality of the recent
health care legislation instituted by the President. As the Supreme
Court has chosen not to uphold life and freedom guaranteed under
Christ, it is essential that We comment on this matter.
3. We congratulate the Justices of the Supreme Court who voted
against this legislation.
4. Legislation that requires persons and institutions to purchase
health care has been held Constitutional, yet due to its provisions,
it is inherently incompatible with the Laws of Christ and
intrinsically evil. With evil there may be no compromise.
5. Christians may be forced under this new law to pay for
contraceptives and abortions of others. The Supreme Court has chosen
to uphold the culture of death. As We have said in general in the
period leading up to this historic vote, the "individual
mandate" places many devout Christians in the position of having
to chose between violating their consciences and suffering legal penalties.
6. Neither the Supreme Court nor the President of the United States
is above the Laws of Christ or of His Holy Church. Temporal
governments and their authorities are only just insofar as they are
consistent with the Laws of Christ. If they are not consistent, then
Christians are not bound by them. We therefore call upon all
Christians to oppose and disobey this legislation to the best of
their abilities.
7. We pray for all who have been placed in difficult positions due to
this Supreme Court decision and the legislation. We are reminded of
Saint Lawrence and our glorious Patron Saint Stephen, and all the
martyrs who stood firm against the evils of the world, even though it
cost them their lives. We are reminded of the strength of the
Confessors who devoted their lives to promoting the Truth of Christ
under whom the only real justice exists. From them we draw strength
in this present fight. This fight is not political, it is spiritual.
It is a fight in which there may be no compromise.
Rutherford c.p.p. I
Given at the Court of Saint Mary of Walsingham
on the Feast of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr
28 June A.D. 2012.