Among the great contributions of the Catholic people to America is a legacy of strong educational, healthcare and social support institutions. Precisely because of its catholic or universal nature, the Church always serves a community larger than those who find themselves in full agreement with all of its teachings. This is a constitutive part of the Gospel mission that Jesus lived and entrusted to us.

Throughout this Year of Faith (Cycle B) we read from Mark, the earliest of the Gospels, written when it was deemed urgent to record the deeds and teachings of Christ so those who did not actually witness them would know the real Jesus. In Mark, Christ draws crowds because He heals and teaches. Herein lies the foundation of our mission in the world.

The healing power of Christ is powerful and available to all, extending to people of every political, religious, social and economic status. Thus social outcasts, detested state officials and even partygoers (remember Cana) benefit from His curative and restorative powers. But His passion to heal goes beyond the temporal. He teaches about an eternal life. And He does not hesitate to preach that this life begins with turning from sin and turning to Him!

Catholics have never been confined by their worship spaces. Our work must reach beyond, especially among the poor and marginalized. That work, in turn, must be true to the faith and give life. No one better than Mother Teresa was living proof of this. Exactly how many of those to whom she ministered throughout her life were not even Christians — and precisely because she was a Catholic — may never be known!

Our hospitals, schools and social service agencies must remain faithful both to the deeds and the teachings of our faith.  To heal and support life, we cannot steal and abort life. When government forces us to choose between funding sterilizations and contraceptives that induce abortions or closing our doors, it exceeds its constitutional authority by violating the most fundamental of human rights (to follow one’s conscience) and the First Amendment (the free exercise of one’s religion).

It would be not only a sudden departure from our history but a contradiction of our Gospel mission to limit our social services only to those who professed the Catholic faith first. In effect, this imposes a litmus test for receiving the compassion of Christ. We cannot do this and be loyal to Him.

Ironically, this is just what we are being required to do — or face fines in the millions of dollars which, practically speaking, would force us to abandon our mission. Sister Carol Keehan, head of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, advances the argument that the rule potentially establishes a new test for what is and is not a religious institution – any religious institution, not just the Catholic Church. The ruling constrains not only Catholics but all Americans who do not want the exercise of their faith to be confined to a church, hall, synagogue or mosque.

The new rule differs sharply from the one currently employed by the Internal Revenue Service definition and one that could have implications for other policies, on issues such as covering all abortions. “We have a long history in this country of ensuring that religious groups’ issues are respected,” Sister Carol said. “It’s always a challenge in a pluralistic society to be sure that that’s done in the appropriate way. But all of a sudden we no longer qualify, and that was a jolt.”

Or maybe an earthquake! Everyone should consider what looms here for the First Amendment rights of all our citizens. To think of this as a merely academic debate on “Catholic” issues that can be worked out among experts when the politics of an election year simmer down could result in the loss of countless charitable and humanitarian institutions in our society and good chunk of our individual liberties.