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Virginia official: going to jail may be strategy against HHS mandate

CWN - January 11, 2013

Ken Cuccinelli, a pro-life Catholic who serves as Virginia’s attorney general, has told a radio show host that going to jail may be an effective strategy to oppose the HHS mandate.

“Abraham Lincoln has many good quotes, but one of them is ‘The best way to get rid of a bad law is to enforce it vigorously,’” said Cuccinelli, a gubernatorial candidate. Going to jail would “provide an example of what tyranny means when it's played to its logical conclusion.”

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  • Posted by: Thomas429 - Jan. 12, 2013 1:51 AM ET USA

    It would be interesting to say the least. I do not see anyone being martyred for refusing to perform an abortion, prescribe an abortifaicant pill, or even provide birth control pills. I wonder how many Doctors with Catholic consciences, other christian doctors, and professionals with consciences would get arrested and prevented from practicing before this bad law would be repealed. I do not think it would take long.

  • Posted by: Gregory108 - Jan. 11, 2013 11:53 PM ET USA

    I don't know this man in particular. But I hope when American Catholics see their (arch)bishops and priests dragged to jail in handcuffs, and they write letters to the congregation from jail, and numbers of Masses have to be limited because the pastor's in jail, maybe they'll see the Administration and the President for what it/he are and vote accordingly! At least I'd hope so. If not, then we're truly sunk. That's why the law will likely not be enforced against clergy, but against lay bosses.

  • Posted by: filioque - Jan. 11, 2013 5:46 PM ET USA

    And will Mr. Cuccinelli advise the governor to use his police powers to protect the liberties of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia? Or will he just wave as they are carted off?

  • Posted by: AgnesDay - Jan. 11, 2013 2:29 PM ET USA

    This is also a great way to get people hurt and even killed. The HHS policy is too off-the-charts wrong to start playing Thoreau. Martyrdom will rear its head in plenty of time: no need to rush it.

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