What Do Single People Need from the Church?

Oh, so many things I want to write about and share with you... my bloggy friends.
My apologizies for the recent neglect of this blog.

However, of all the things I would like to address here... this blog/column from the National Catholic Register hits so many points... especially in the comments section!
I feel like I just want everyone to read it!

What Do Single People Need from the Church

Would you?
And if you would be so kind, come back here and share your thoughts.
and if so, kindly discern your age range and religious affiliation.
(have something up my sleeve that we should all enjoy)

Thanks, and Happy Post Singles Awareness Day!!!

Then They Came For Me

I really want to write about the controversy over the mandated contraception and sterilization ruling as determined by Health and Human Services - but I'm a bit overwhelmed by my rage over the situation.

(Which really frustrates me because I want to be timely)  Partly, I feel like I just can't articulate my thoughts on the subject as well as I would like - and the other part is, I'm just so tired.

Here's the nutshell. The O-God-Help-Us Administration has ruled that every employer in America, including Catholic institutions, must provide contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs in their company health plans. Even if doing so violates their conscious. (it does).

Set aside for a moment that this is about contraception. Not everyone is ever going to agree with the Church's position on contraception, so let's not argue about that.  What this is REALLY about is religious freedom. Bishop Timothy Dolan, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says it best in the video link which I have partially quoted below;

"Never before has the Federal Government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the bill of rights. How about letting our elected leaders know we want religious liberty and rights of conscience restored."

This ruling is a direct, obvious and blatant violation of the first amendment which states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

Even if you're not Catholic... if you believe in God and seek to serve Him at all... you should be concerned about this ruling. Because, if it stands, your beliefs are next.

A few months ago I said that our government was going to set out to destroy religious freedom. I predicted that they would go after Mormonism first, and the Catholics would be next. Seems the attention has flipped. You should know that I would gladly stand in defense of my Mormon friends should their fundamental beliefs be under attack.

I'm taking a bit of the easy way out here... and I'm going to link to some already well-written pieces about it. Hopefully I can dig up some writing inspiration in the next few days and come back to this post and do better.

Here is my area Bishop's thoughts on the ruling.

The Bad Catholic hit a home run as usual with his Open Letter to President O-God-Help-Us Concerning Recent Tyranny

We could only hope this unconstitutional ruling will be overturned.

And lastly, I ask for your help to write to the president and to your state representatives to repeal this ruling. I'm asking all of you Protestants out there who recognize this as an attack on religious freedom, to stand with your Catholic friends against this.  If you need further convincing, please read Shoved to Them's Call to Arms.  She provides links to contacts. If you would like a form letter to work from, contact me at Singlesolitarythings@yahoo.com, and I will send you a letter composed by a friend of mine.

Thank you for letting me address this. You know that I don't set out to preach on this blog, but our religious freedom is too precious to ignore.

This quote from Martin Niemoller, a foe of Hitler and Nazi rule is sounding quite relevant in our modern times, isn't it?

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -
and there was no one left to speak for me.

image above borrowed from National Catholic Register