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EWTN leader explains refusal to accept HHS mandate

CWN - February 22, 2012

The New York Times has published a column by Michael Warsaw, the president of Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), explaining why the Catholic broadcasting giant cannot comply with the Obama contraceptive mandate.

“Mother Angelica didn’t create EWTN to be a weak Catholic voice,” says Warsaw. “Our donors send us money to spread Catholic teachings, not to subvert them. The mandate makes it impossible for us to live up to that core mission, giving us the choice of either compromising our beliefs or being crushed by fines. That ultimatum is unfair, unconstitutional and repugnant--which is why we have no choice but to fight it in court.”

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  • Posted by: mgreen32234 - Feb. 23, 2012 11:09 AM ET USA

    My favorite Mother A. moment: An early fundraiser by Mother and her Poor Clare nuns involved peanuts. In 1967 they created the Li'l Ole Peanut Company. It was up and running within a week. The nuns scalded and roasted peanuts. They packaged. They sold. They made good money (Ch. 8). Years later when a shifty supplier tried to extort a kickback, Mother nixed the shakedown. And shut down the Li'l Ole Peanut Company. She said, "If I'm going to hell, it's not going to be over peanuts" (Ch. 9).

  • Posted by: chasann113163 - Feb. 23, 2012 8:20 AM ET USA

    Thank goodness, We can always count on EWTN and Mother to do the right thing. It's time we take pride in being Catholic, and practice our religion without having to apoligize for what our faith teaches.

  • Posted by: ILM - Feb. 22, 2012 8:45 PM ET USA

    If the courts fail us, maybe we should allow ourselves to be "crushed by fines", a sort of economic martyrdom.

  • Posted by: AgnesDay - Feb. 22, 2012 5:13 PM ET USA

    Right on, Mr. Warsaw!

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