1333 S. Kirkwood Rd. • St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 • 314-965-9000 • http://www.lcms.org
February 3, 2012
A Statement on Recent HHS Decision and Religious Freedom by President of the LCMS, The Rev. Dr. Matthew Harison
We are deeply distressed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recent decision to require nearly all private health plans, including those offered by religious employers, to cover contraceptives. This will include controversial birth-control products such as “Ella” and the “morning after” pill, even though the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that such drugs can cause the death of a baby developing in the womb. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) objects to the use of drugs and procedures that are used to take the lives of unborn children, who are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception, and we are opposed to the HHS’ decision mandating the coverage of such contraceptives.
This HHS action relates to a provision in the “health care reform” legislation (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) signed into law in 2010. The church’s benefits partner, Concordia Plan Services, which provides health care coverage to nearly 48,000 people, has been actively monitoring this legislation and, as a result, Concordia Health Plan (CHP)—the LCMS church workers’ health plan—has been maintained as a “grandfathered” plan. As such, employers and workers participating in CHP would not be subjected to the mandate. However, many religious organizations do not have grandfathered plans and cannot avail themselves of the extremely narrow religious-employer exemption, which only is applicable to religious employers that primarily serve and employ members of that faith.
For centuries, Lutherans have joyfully delivered Christ’s mercy to others and embraced His call to care for the needy within our communities and around the world. In a nation that has allowed more than 54 million legal abortions since 1973, we must consider the marginalization of unborn babies and object to this mandate.
In addition, I encourage the members of the LCMS to join with me in supporting efforts to preserve our essential right to exercise our religious beliefs. This action by HHS will have the effect of forcing many religious organizations to choose between following the letter of the law and operating within the framework of their religious tenets. We add our voice to the long list of those championing for the continued ability to act according to the dictates of their faith, and provide compassionate care and clear Christian witness to society’s most vulnerable, without being discriminated against by government.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, a church body of sinners redeemed by the blood of Jesus, has affected the lives of millions of people with care, aid, housing, health care, spiritual care and much more. We have been a force for good in this nation, promoting education (the nation’s largest Protestant school system), marriage and giving people the tools and assistance to be good citizens. We live and breathe Romans 13:3–7. The governing authorities are “God’s servant for good.” We pray constantly for our President and those in authority. We have sent our sons and daughters to fight for this country. We have provided military chaplains, elected officials, officers, including some who have held the highest military offices and other appointed positions in this country. Our people have and are serving as congressmen and women and senators.
Increasingly we are suffering overzealous government intrusions into what is the realm of traditional and biblical Christian conscience. We believe this is a violation of our First Amendment rights. We will stand, to the best of our ability, with all religious and other concerned citizens, against this erosion of our civil liberty. Come what may, we shall do everything we can, by God’s grace, to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison
President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Thank you, President Harrison. This is the kind of leadership needed in the church when the state has overstepped the authority granted to it by the people not via laws but via the Constitution. Although the Concordia Health Plan is exempt, we should still support the church-at-large where its rightful mission of charity is under attack by the state whose rightful mission does not include charity but defense of life, liberty and property.
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First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak out because I was Protestant.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Martin Niemöller
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Excellent, Stand with our Catholic Brothers and Sisters!
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As a practicing Catholic, I thank you with all my heart for standing with us against this horrific ruling. I feel that God put each of us on this earth for a reason. We must be able to hold our head high at the final judgment with the knowledge that we stood up for what is right. Please continue to pray that our leaders will rescind this law.
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Hi Therese, you are most welcome. I am glad that our synodical president, Rev. Harrison has taken this stand and let us pray for each other. This affects all Christians who are true to the Word of God and what it says about life.
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I hope, by this statement, that the LCMS will refuse to obey HHS’s Unconstitutional mandate.
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Thank you for your leadership at this very precarious time in our country. I have been reading about the Black Robe Regiment. Those pastors were very important to the formation of our great nation. With prayer and grace, today’s pastors and our religious communities will help to return our great country to its origins. That of limited government and religious freedom.
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I too am outraged at stripping of freedom of religion rights guaranteed by our constitution. Also, by requiring religious organizations to provide contraceptive, and the morning after pill will increase the cost to the insurance carried by the religious organizations, which are not for profits and already struggling financially. I intend to contact my representatives.
Mary Long
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Thank you Rev. Harrison for standing up for the true faith and our freedom. These are troubling times we live in. My wife and I praise and thank God for sending you to us and for your faithful Christ centered cross focused leadership. May we have may more days of this passing shower.
We pray that God will strengthen and keep you in the days to come.
As the Christians of old prayed; come quickly Lord Jesus.
Yours in Christ,
Phillip & Jayne Gohr
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Phillip and Jayne, I will be forwarding your thank-you to Rev. Harrison. I think he will appreciate your word of encouragement. I pray that the Lord continue the blessings of faith with you and your congregation. Yours in Christ, Rev. Schroeder
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Amen and Amen, Brother Harrison, and I knowingly speak for many in the WELS when I say that. May God’s promised mercy strengthen us all as we strive against evil powers to preserve our constitutional freedoms.
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God bless and keep you! Thank you for speaking out. We Christians have to stop being afraid to express our beliefs and the benefits we offer the nation. I keep going back to the prayer of Jesus…that we all may be one….In today’s context: “United we stand, divided we fall”. God bless you!
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