Denver Catholic

to provide any health care coverage that is guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act, including contraception, abor- tifacients and sterilization. Sen. Udall is being support- ed in his effort by Planned Parenthood Action, NARAL and the National Women's Law Center. The health care system in our country and our society at large would not be what it is today without the contri- butions of people who were able to act upon their faith. Religious freedom has al- lowed people concerned with pursuing the common good— that which is true, good and beautiful—to enrich society with their desire to serve God in their fellow man. Without a true understand- ing of freedom and the need to protect it, American society is being formed by people seek- ing momentary pleasures or conveniences like contracep- tion without weighing their true cost. Pope Francis warned in "Evangelii Gaudium" (53) about the "culture of exclu- sion" that this approach to life creates, in which self-satisfac- tion trumps concern for the other or any consideration of what is good for society. When a desire for what is truly good guides our deci- sions, we are able to recognize the beautiful contributions of people like the Little Sisters of the Poor, instead of calling them "dirty." I urge all of the faithful of northern Colorado to show your support for the sisters and other organizations that have stood up to the ad- ministration's mandate. I also ask you to contact Senator Udall and urge him to with- draw his bill. May God bless you in your efforts to fi nd true freedom in your lives by escaping the slavery of sin and pursuing the holiness God calls you to! Attorney general warns same-sex 'marriage' licenses invalid BY NISSA LAPOINT Colorado bishops responded July 10 to unfolding legal chaos over same-sex "marriage" after a district court judge declared the state's marriage amend- ment unconstitutional. The three Catholic bish- ops said that the ruling deliv- ered July 9 by Adams County District Judge C. Scott Crab- tree advances a false view of the institution as a "sheer emo- tional arrangement" able to be redefi ned to "accommodate the impulses of culture." "Marriage and the family are cornerstones of every cul- ture. Marriage has long been recognized as the lifelong rela- tionship between one man and one woman that allows for the procreation of children; this is consistent with human biolo- gy and the natural law," stated Denver's Archbishop Samu- el Aquila, Colorado Spring's Bishop Michael Sheridan and Pueblo's Bishop Stephen Berg. "Upholding the truth about marriage advances the dignity of all people, and it pro- motes a culture that acknowl- edges, values and respects the unique and complementary gifts of both a mother and a father in the lives of children." Judge Crabtree stayed his decision pending appeal from embattled Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, who has been fi ghting since June to hold back the tide of activists pushing for the issuance of same-sex "marriage" licenses. In 2006, Colorado voters ap- proved—with a 53 percent ma- jority—to add to the state con- stitution the defi nition of mar- riage as the union between a man and a woman. Boulder clerk Hillary Hall began to issue "marriage" licenses to same-sex couples June 25 after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Utah's marriage amendment. The ruling was stayed pend- ing appeal, which the Utah attorney general announced Wednesday that he would fi le with the U.S. Supreme Court. Suthers sought to halt the issuing of licenses, warning that they're invalid. He said the clerks are jumping the gun by issuing the licenses before court appeals are fi led and ruled on. Today, Boulder County Judge Andrew Hartman ruled that the Boulder county clerk could ignore the federal stay. That ruling led Denver Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson to also begin issuing "marriage" licenses to same-sex couples, which was praised in a press statement released by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Jenny Kraska, attorney and director of the Church's state public policy arm the Colo- rado Catholic Conference, explained that the courts' de- cisions against the marriage amendment are not fi nal. Neither the Adams Coun- ty district court nor the 10th Circuit Court's decision allows for licenses given to same-sex couples because "both courts stayed their decisions pending further action by higher courts, which basically means that the rulings from these courts will not go into effect until all par- ties have exhausted their ap- peals to higher courts." Suthers said the clerks are only perpetuating confusion as the issue is bound for the U.S. Supreme Court. As the legal battle continues, the Colorado bishops said they will continue to protect mar- riage while also treating same- sex attracted men and women "with dignity and love, as we would all God's children." "We are called to make this stand because redefi ning mar- riage will only further erode the family structure of our so- ciety," they stated. "We strong- ly urge all Catholics in Colora- do to pray for the preservation of marriage and to pray for our elected offi cials and judges who are tasked with defending and upholding the laws and constitution of Colorado." Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa LOCAL NEWS I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I JULY 16, 2014 by how but at prepa- new Archdio- did 10 BY NISSA LAPOINT The National Organiza- tion for Women's labeling Catholic nuns as "dirty" in its list "The Dirty 100" is "highly offensive" and an affront to the dignity of women, said Catho- lic lobbyist Jenny Kraska. Kraska is executive director of the Colorado Catholic Con- ference, the public policy arm of the Church in the state. She responded to the pro-abortion lobby's list released this week that included the Little Sisters of the Poor. "It is highly offensive to me, as a woman and a Catholic, that a group such as NOW, which professes to be con- cerned about equality for women, would develop a list identifying the Little Sisters of the Poor as 'dirty,'" Kraska said in a statement. "It seems to me that NOW is only con- cerned about women who take the same radical positions that their organization does." A request for comment from a NOW media spokesperson was not returned July 9. The Little Sisters of the Poor is an order of nuns found- ed by St. Jeanne Jugan in the 19th century. They operate a home in Denver and some 200 homes across fi ve continents under their spiritual charism of the "grace of hospitality to- ward the aged poor." The Little Sisters "are a mag- nifi cent group of women that have dedicated their lives to service of the least among us and they have done so with a spirit and zeal that provides a beautiful witness of love, self-sacrifi ce and dignity that all women can draw inspira- tion from," Kraska said. The pro-abortion organiza- tion's list also tries to shame other Catholic organizations including Priests for Life, which advocates against the death penalty and abortion, and 12 Catholic dioceses in the United States. The list targets entities that fi led lawsuits against the con- traceptive mandate within the Affordable Care Act and is part of a larger effort called "The Dirty 100 campaign." The cam- paign included a demonstra- tion outside the U.S. Supreme Court before justices ruled June 30 in favor of for-profi t businesses' religious freedom to not comply with the federal Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate. This week, NOW reacted to the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores ruling by asking its ad- herents to "stand against The Dirty 100" and refuse to sup- port entities that oppose em- ployer-paid birth control on the basis of religious liberty. The lobby spread its message on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #Dirty100 invit- ing people to petition against those on its list. It advocates on its website to "stand with NOW and tell them it is not acceptable for employ- ers to impose their personal beliefs on their employees." Kraska said all women should strive to promote a universal recognition of the dignity of women regard- less of religion or politics. But NOW's listing of some women as "dirty," she noted, demon- strates that "promoting equal- ity for all women is clearly not their goal." Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa Catholic leader calls NOW's 'Dirty 100' list offensive to women PHOTO PROVIDED COLORADO Attorney General John Suthers is battling to de- fend the state's marriage amendment, which defi nes marriage as the union between a man and a woman, despite county clerks who are issuing "marriage" licenses to same-sex cou- ples. Suthers said the clerks are jumping the gun by issuing the licenses before court appeals are fi led and ruled on. Redefi ning marriage will 'erode the family,' say bishops Aquila From Page 2 DCR FILE PHOTO BY JAMES BACA A LITTLE Sister nun helps a resident at Mullen Home.

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