Wow. What a day. I’ve been watching the House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform hold a hearing on religious liberty in the face of the HHS mandate.
It was inspiring at times and absolutely crazy at others with Dems storming out and Planned Parenthood tweeting about it and some Catholic college presidents hitting absolute home runs in defense of liberty and Bishop Lori with the most unique testimony of the day.
Here’s four stories I wrote for The Cardinal Newman Society. If you read them it’ll be like you spent your whole day watching the same stinking internet feed that I watched all day.
First, we’ll start with the surreal and go to Bishop Lori of Bridgeport, who won the award for the longest sustained metaphor with his Parable of the Kosher Deli.
Then we’ll go to two of the most inspiring Catholic college Presidents out there in Belmont Abbey’s Bill Thierfelder and the Catholic University of America’s John Garvey:
Belmont Abbey President Vows Not to Waiver in Defense of Religious Liberty.
CUA President Garvey Assuses the Obama administration of Political Agenda
Then we’ll cut right to the shenanigans with the Dems storming out because they couldn’t transmogrify ( a scientific term) the hearing into a hearing on how religion harms women’s right to contraception.
It was a heckuva day on the Hill. And there’s more to come…
February 16, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Bishop Lori's parable was superb. 😉
He seems gentler than Abp. Chaput, but the message still carries a punch.
February 16, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Here is the video on the Contraception hearing.
My question is: Who the Hell put these bulldog dyke baby killers in positions of authority?
Who the hell voted for them?
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/democrats-scold-issa-contraception-hearing-15684209
Congratulations to Mr. Issa for stonewalling them!
*
February 16, 2012 at 9:05 pm
I agree with you in principle, but somebody should have foreseen the reaction the image of an all-male panel would get. There are plenty of women who support the religious liberty issue. One or two should have been included to undercut the Dems' arguments – Maybe someone from the Sisters of Life.
February 16, 2012 at 11:40 pm
HUGE mistake to not include women. On anything that even remotely touches on "reproductive" issues (and I know the topic was religious liberty, but that's not how it will play in the media) you need AT LEAST 50% female representation. Seriously. Mary Ann Glendon, constitutional law professor, was not available? Helen Alvare? We have plenty of terrific, articulate women available to us…
February 17, 2012 at 12:09 am
No women on the testimony panel is a giant PR mistake. Planned parenthood is all over social media with the "what's wrong with this picture", er picture. We need to have women up there saying that this is a religious liberty issue– don't change the subject!
February 17, 2012 at 1:16 am
"We need to have women up there saying that this is a religious liberty issue"
Here's one: Sarah Steelman of Missouri, GOP (primary) candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Claire McCaskill:
http://the-american-catholic.com/2012/02/16/hhs-mandate-good-politics-for-those-who-oppose-it/#comments
Elaine
February 17, 2012 at 2:55 am
Thanks so much for letting us know what's going on. I haven't been able to find this information and was really wanting to know how it went!!! Big Thanks for offering your time to keep tabs on it!
February 17, 2012 at 5:05 am
Great coverage, Matthew. Thanks for posting it. I loved Bishop Lori's speech.
February 17, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Is there any video of these testimonies?
February 18, 2012 at 7:11 am
Found video of Bishop Lori's "Parable of the Kosher Deli": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWeX81uzaJA
February 19, 2012 at 9:44 pm
FYI…don't forget the women who testified: Dr. Garrett (PhD) and Dr. Champion (MD).