Diocese of La Crosse issues corrective statement on FSPA president

This was ordered read or distributed on all parishes in the Diocese of La Crosse this Sunday.  It was read at my parish but probably not at more liberal parishes in the diocese(who had refused Arch Listecki's orders to disseminate his message during Sunday homilies in the past). 

This comes on the heels of Sr. Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA, La Crosse, publicly supporting healthcare legislation that actively promotes abortion and vocally opposing the US bishops(and urging others to do the same). Sr. Weisenbeck is also the former chancellor of the Diocese of La Crosse.

Oddly enough the FSPA started the first hospital in La Crosse in 1883 without government mandated abortion.  Apparently they feel that was a mistake and it would be best if the Catholic hospital they began stopped wasting time on unborn children.

D i o c e s e o f L a C r o s s e
Office of the chancery diocesan archives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2010 Contact: Ben Nguyen, Chancellor 608-791-2655
NEWS RELEASE
STATEMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LA CROSSE
On the Letter Issued by “Network” on Healthcare Reform
On March 17th, a letter issued to the media by “Network,” a social justice lobby group of some women religious, urged passage by Congress of the current Senate healthcare bill.
The Network letter sadly contradicts the Catholic Bishops of the United States, who, after working tirelessly for legitimate healthcare reform, had concluded that the current Senate bill would result in “expansion of abortion funding and of policies forcing everyone to pay for abortions…and must be opposed unless and until these serious moral problems are addressed” (March 15 letter of Cardinal Francis George, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops - USCCB).
The Network letter calls the bishops’ conclusion that taxpayer funding of elective abortion would result from the bill a “false claim.” This misleading and unsupported statement sows confusion about the truth of the matter and about who speaks for the Church. In the end, statements like this end up providing “cover” for politicians and others who want to appear pro-life but who are willing to see abortion deceptively included as part of health care.
It is particularly unfortunate that signatories of the Network letter include those whose religious orders have in times past heroically provided access to health care without compromising ethical principles.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse strongly stands with the completely clear statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, echoed by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, opposing the current version of the health care legislation under consideration which expands funding for the termination of unborn human beings and violates conscience.
The provision of abortion funding and the lack of adequate conscience protection do not expand justice for all. Health care at the expense of lives of the unborn is not social justice.
Statements from individuals and groups such as Network directly undermine the tireless work of the United States Bishops and the pro-life faithful in America and in the Diocese of La Crosse.
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To learn what you can do at this critical time, please see the Diocesan website www.dioceseoflacrosse.com
Rev. Msgr. Richard W. Gilles
Diocesan Administrator
Benedict T. Nguyen
Chancellor
Rev. Leon Powell
Vice-Chancellor
Rev. Joseph Hirsch
Office for Clergy & Vocations
Rev. Msgr. Robert Hundt
Judicial Vicar
Christopher Ruff
Deacon Matthew Ludick
Office of Ministries & Social Concerns
Sr. M. Stephania Newell, F.S.G.M.
Office of Consecrated Life
Jeff Heinzen, Alice Heinzen, Jeff Arrowood
Office of Family Life
Ann Lankford
Office of Catechesis & Evangelization
Christopher Rogers
Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Christopher Carstens
Office of Sacred Worship
Diana Roberts
Dr. Susan Holman
Office of Catholic Schools
Rev. Roger Scheckel
Missions Office
Travis Simpson
Office of Diocesan Buildings & Grounds
Andrew Gaertner
Office of Stewardship & Development
Stan Gould
The Catholic Times
The U.S. Bishops and the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious have officially responded to the Network letter as follows:
UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
Clarification
Washington - A recent letter from Network, a social justice lobby of sisters, grossly overstated whom they represent in a letter to Congress that was also released to media.
Network’s letter, about health care reform, was signed by a few dozen people, and despite what Network said, they do not come anywhere near representing 59,000 American sisters.
The letter had 55 signatories, some individuals, some groups of three to five persons. One endorser signed twice.
There are 793 religious communities in the United States.
The math is clear. Network is far off the mark.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh
Director of Media Relations
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
STATEMENT OF THE
COUNCIL OF MAJOR SUPERIORS OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS
March 17, 2010
In a March 15th statement, Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke on behalf of the United States Bishops in opposition to the Senate’s version of the health care legislation under consideration because of its expansion of abortion funding and its lack of adequate provision for conscience protection. Recent statements from groups like Network, the Catholic Health Association and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) directly oppose the Catholic Church’s position on critical issues of health care reform.
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the second conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious in the United States, believes the Bishops’ position is the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church.
Protection of life and freedom of conscience are central to morally responsible judgment. We join the bishops in seeking ethically sound legislation.
Mother Mary Quentin Sheridan, R.S.M.
President
On behalf of the Membership of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious