The LCMS South Wisconsin District, meeting in convention June 10-12 in Mequon, Wis., has adopted a resolution that “commends the Roman Catholic Church for its stance on religious freedoms and defense of the rights of the unborn.”
The resolution — overwhelmingly adopted by convention delegates June 10 by a vote of 263-5 — also invites the Roman Catholic archbishop of Milwaukee, the Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki, to appear at the convention “to receive thanks for standing with the [LCMS] on these issues of religious freedoms and human rights.”
A spokesman from the archbishop’s office told Reporter June 12 that Listecki was unable to attend the district convention because he was attending a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He added that the archbishop had spoken by telephone with a South Wisconsin District representative and was “very happy with the resolution.” Listecki plans to meet with LCMS representatives at a later time to personally thank them.
Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, who was at the district convention on opening day, commended the delegates for their action.
The resolution was adopted to “publicly express” the district’s “gratitude to the Roman Catholic Church,” which has filed a dozen lawsuits against the U.S. federal government claiming that the “questionable provisions” of the Affordable Care Act and the Jan. 20 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate are “unconstitutional.” The HHS ruling would require nearly all private health plans — even those offered by religious organizations — to cover contraceptives, including abortion-causing drugs.
The Roman Catholic Church opposes all forms of artificial contraception, and both the LCMS and the Catholic Church teach that human life begins at conception, and do not condone abortion.
The resolution adopted by South Wisconsin District delegates acknowledges that both church bodies “have publicly expressed their opposition to the mandates of the HHS concerning these contraceptive benefits, including the [Catholic Church’s] willingness to help defend this common religious right in civil court,” and that the LCMS “stands with the Roman Catholic Church as Christian citizens in this struggle and is proud and honored to do so.”
The resolution also asks the district to “continue to pray for the preservation of both the religious freedoms we enjoy as American citizens and the sanctity of human life as a gift of God.”
In other convention action, district President Rev. Dr. John C. Wille was elected to his third term. A complete story on the district convention will be posted sometime after it ends on June 12.
Posted June 11, 2012 / Updated June 12, 2012
