Catholic School Says Labor Laws Are Against Its Religion

I think everyone who grew up in at least a mildly progressive household has had an experience along these lines: For years, parents and teachers instruct you in the importance of respecting others' religious beliefs. Shlomo doesn't have to eat that because it's against his religion. Christopher gets to drink the Jesus wine because it's part of his religion.

Soon comes the grossly mistaken idea that religious beliefs can be used as a trump card over what are seen as onerous responsibilities. Popular examples include, "the Flying Spaghetti Monster forbids me to eat vegetables," and "I didn't do my homework because it's against my religion."

Most of us quickly age out of this phase. The same cannot be said for a consortium of Catholic institutions, led by Duquesne University.

At the heart of the matter is an attempt by Duquesne to withdraw from an agreement to allow the National Labor Relations Board to oversee an election by adjunct faculty who want to collectively organize under the United Steelworkers. Rather than allow certification to proceed, Duquesne filed a motion with the NLRB, claiming that it qualifies for a religious exemption from the Board's authority…

"Our Catholic identity is at the core of who we are and everything we do as an institution," said Bridget Fare, university spokesperson. "Our mission statement proclaims that Duquesne serves God by serving students. Those words are lived out every day on our campus in very real ways in every part of the university."

Not included in "Those words," apparently, is the doctrinal Catholic commitment to social justice and workers' rights. In fairness, there are A LOT of words on this topic, including a Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy from U. S. Catholic Bishops…

The Church fully supports the right of workers to form unions or other associations to secure their rights to fair wages and working conditions. This is a specific application of the more general right to associate. In the words of Pope John Paul II, "The experience of history teaches that organizations of this type are an indispensable element of social life, especially in modern industrial societies."

Maybe following the dictates of their religion is against their religion.

Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Tags: Catholic Church, Education, Religion, Unions

Our Endorsements: Mitt Romney's First Day

* Jimmy Kimmel reimagines Romney's latest ad.

* How the Chicago Cubs can reelect Obama, from McSweeney's.

* The Onion discusses Catholics and birth control.

* Tracy Morgan does his thing* on Conan (*calls Obama a gangbanger).

* Airport Security, by Scott Beale.

Tags: Barack Obama, Catholic Church, Conan O'Brien, Daily Links, Jimmy Kimmel, Mitt Romney, Sports, The Onion, Women's Rights

Our Endorsements: Mitt Romney Should Go Method

* James Lipton teaches Romney how to act authentic. In other words, like an oxymoron.

* Larry King is the king, nay, emperor of dubstep, from Funny or Die.

* Before President Obama could endorse gay marriage, he had to do a lot of vetting.

* Behind the Pen: The Chinese Threat, from The Onion.

* Fabulous tyrants, dictators & popes, from Scott Scheidly.

Tags: Adolf Hitler, Barack Obama, Catholic Church, Daily Links, Funny or Die, Kim Jong Il, Larry King, Marriage Equality, Mitt Romney

Stephen Colbert on Paul Ryan's Christian Budget Cuts

"Don't talk to me about separation of church and state; this is a Christian nation. Our money says 'In God We Trust,' our Declaration of Independence namechecks the Creator and when Congress passes a law, it is nothing short of a miracle." – Stephen Colbert

Coverage continues with Georgetown University's Father Thomas Reese after the jump…

The Colbert Report airs Monday through Thursday at 11:30/10:30c.

Read More »

Tags: Ayn Rand, Barack Obama, Bill of Rights, Budget, Catholic Church, Christianity, Church v. State, Constitution, Economy, House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, Religion, Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, Video

Quote Unquote: Lazy Lesbian Adoption

Bill Donohue's Catholic League weighs in on The Great Hilary Rosen Controversy of '12 via Twitter…

.

"Lesbian Dem Hilary Rosen tells Ann Romney she never worked a day in her life. Unlike Rosen, who had to adopt kids, Ann raised 5 of her own."

.

Nailed it! Aw man, nailed it so hard. And before anybody jumps on me, no, a point does not need a logical through-line for it to be awesome.

What it comes down to is this: If Hilary Rosen wasn't so busy being all lazy and lesbian and shit, maybe she would have found the time to be heterosexual and have five kids. Best point ever!

 

Tags: Ann Romney, Babies, Bill Donohue, Catholic Church, Hilary Rosen, LGBT, Religion