The controversy over the HHS Mandate to employers to provide contraception, sterilization and abortion inducing drugs, free of charge, to their employees is not about providing goods and services. It is about a law passed in secret containing a mandate giving power to an unelected government official to compel individual businesses and large institutions to provide something that is against their religious beliefs and conscience, that binds those beliefs into action; and if they don’t comply they will be forced to pay onerous fines, i.e. $600,000 for the EWTN Broadcasting Network, and $140 million for Catholic Charities, in the first year with increases in succeeding years, which will force faith based institutions out of the health care business. Numerous exemptions to the Obama Care have been given to secular businesses. No, this is not about contraception, who pays for it, or free access to it, it is just another episode in this administration’s war on religion, and well planned agenda to “fundamentally change America” from a Free Democratic Republic of We The People to a Secular Socialist Dictatorship that has trampled our Constitution and bypassed our legislators to enforce its radical ideology.

This mandate is in clear violation of the first line of the First Amendment to our Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” the rest of the amendment is also being violated, but that is a conversation for another letter.

The discussions put forth in the media over the past several weeks has evidenced the fact that our culture has become so secularized that many no longer understand what the terms religious liberty, conscience rights or free exercise of religion, mean, their importance to our fundamental freedom and our survival as a nation. A remedial history lesson is needed.

The Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Thus, our rights are given to us from God, not the government. They are unalienable, cannot be taken away, and the government is formed to secure these rights, by the power of the governed, We The People.

The Bill of Rights was designed to protect freedom of religion not a freedom from religion. Religion was central to the founding of America. The Pilgrims and other religious groups came to this country so that they could practice their religion without government interference. The Constitutional Convention began each day with a prayer. Its oldest delegate, Benjamin Franklin, age 81 said, “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs in the Affairs or Men.”

John Adams warned that “it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.” He also said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Sessions of Congress and the Supreme Court to this day begin with a prayer.

Without Religious Liberty and Rights of Conscience we are no longer a free people.

Since the media and some readers insist that this is all about the Catholic Church being against contraception, a further history and apologetics lesson is in order.

Contrary to popular belief, prior to the 1930 Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion, which opened the flood gates to allowing the use of contraceptives, every Christian church was against the practice of contraception. The Catholic Church has always taught that all forms of artificial contraception are morally illicit. The Church believes and teaches that procreation is good and it should only be part of the marital relationship. The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill was first approved in the US in 1960.

The Pontifical Commission on Population Family and Birth Rate was originally created by Pope John XXIII shortly before his death (1963) in order to prepare for Vatican participation in a United Nations conference. Pope Paul VI expanded the Commission’s mandate to study the increasingly controversial issue of the Church’s teaching on contraception. Paul VI’s real interest was not in potentially revising the Church’s teaching, but in determining whether use of the birth control pill was condemned by that teaching. (see article “Grisez Interview: New Documents Give the Real Story Behind Paul VI Birth Control Commission,” by Christine Dhanagom on LifeSiteNews.com, February 24, 2011).

The commission recommended that use of the pill be allowed. The Pope as head of the Church, the 2,000 year old Apostolic body (not a democracy of men), reaffirmed the constant Church teaching against contraception in his Encyclical of July 25, 1968 Humanae Vitae (On Human Life). It is a very readable letter that beautifully explains God’s plan for conjugal love and responsible parenthood. It was also a prophetic document outlining the grave consequences of the approval of artificial methods of birth control: marital infidelity, weakening of the discipline of morals, abortion and extramarital procreative technology; the Culture of Death that we are now experiencing.

The fact that the Humanae Vitae was largely ignored and dissenting Catholic Bishops, Priests and Laity condone and practice contraception is a tragedy for society and Scandal for the Church. If some members do not adhere to a precept of an organization it does not follow that the precept is no longer valid. We do not change laws because they are not longer obeyed, or because we are more tolerant of differences… or maybe we do now… in our post-modern world… That is what happens when we have No-Fault Freedom, (all the choice, none of the responsibilities) as opposed to the liberty our founders understood: freedom coupled with responsibility to something bigger or higher than the self.

“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” Thomas Jefferson

Sincerely,

Loretta L. Daly

Susquehanna, PA

For those of you that have Internet availability, go to “Children of God for Life.” That website will explain, in detail, how bad Pepsi has become.

PepsiCo is about to launch their new drink called “Pepsi Next.” Why do I write “a drink from hell?” To be plain, no one knows what will be in it, maybe not the Pepsi bottlers!

Pepsi has, and is doing, business with Senomyx, a company in San Diego, CA. Senomyx brags that it has, or developed, over 800,000 flavors or additives.

They experiment in different ways to develop new flavors. Unfortunately, one of the experiments is using a kidney of an unborn baby - a human life, a baby with potential that was brutally cut up and vacuumed out of its mother’s womb.

Senomyx uses the little kidney to see what it can develop. Last year, in 2011, “Children of God for Life” (a scientific research site) discovered Pepsi was involved with Senomyx.

The shareholders of Pepsi found out about Senomyx and had a vote for Pepsi to stay with Senomyx or leave.

The Pepsi shareholders or stock holders voted to have Pepsi leave and get away from Senomyx and their research.

Last October, the Pepsi shareholders presented their voting results to Pepsi management.

Now, wouldn’t you think any company would listen to the advice of their stock holders, who have invested their money in their company? Guess what Pepsi management did and is doing?! Pepsi is trying to erase the stock holders remarks. Pepsi wants to bring out “Pepsi Next.”

Now, who do you think Pepsi or PepsiCo went to for help? Pepsi management went to the White House, and President Obama and his advisors said it was alright to go ahead with Senomyx.

President Obama and Ms. Sebelius, the HHS secretary, are already trying to force religious institutions to supply baby killing drugs against the 1st Amendment and religious beliefs.

What is next awaiting our once wonderful USA?

Pepsi has been very open about doing what it pleases, even though it causes controversy. For several years Pepsi has, or had, sponsored a Pepsi float in parades of very lewd people in San Francisco, CA. The American Family Association (over 2 million members) has objected to Pepsi sponsoring these parades; they had a boycott against Pepsi and their products.

So what do you think, those of you that are reading this? If you are a Pepsi shareholder, Pepsi won’t listen and will erase your suggestions! If it was me, I would sell my stock in PepsiCo. When I went to a store, I would not load Mountain Dew, Mug, Aquafina, Propel or Diet Pepsi into my shopping cart. I would not put Tropicana, Gatorade or Lipton Tea into my cart. I would not put Lays potato chips, Doritos, or any Frito-Lay product or any Quaker Oat product in my cart. Or Seattle’s Best Coffee!

I would ask the store manager to stop having the biggest and most shelf displays for all of the Pepsi products. I would call Pepsi beverage distributors and tell them we will boycott “Pepsi Next.”

And most importantly, I would pray to God for all of us, including me, a sinner, to restore the USA to greatness!

Sincerely,

Bruce Moorhead

Susquehanna, PA

If you're like many Americans, the answer is the grocery store. And frankly, that disturbs me. The grocery store isn't where food comes from - it's just from where it's distributed. In reality, far too many people are unaware of the role of American agriculture in their daily lives... and what it really takes to have food on their dinner table.

Just a few generations ago, most people were a part of - and had friends or relatives involved with agriculture. Today, that's no longer the case. That's why I'm writing, because agriculture is responsible for providing the necessities of life... food, fiber, clothing, and shelter. And it's about time Americans recognize that contribution!

American farmers are working harder than ever, and it shows. Today, each American farmer feeds more than 144 people. And the need for food produced in the United States is dramatic. Agriculture is this nation's #1 export and vitally important in sustaining a healthy economy.

And it's not just the farmer who makes our food possible. The entire agriculture industry, all the way to the grocery store, are vital links in a chain that brings food to every citizen - and millions of people abroad.

Frankly, it's easy to take agriculture for granted in America. Our food is readily accessible and safe. For this, we're unbelievably fortunate... but that doesn't mean we don't have an obligation to recognize how it's made possible.

March 8, 2012 was National Ag Day, hosted by the Agriculture Council of America. March is a good time to reflect - and be grateful for - American agriculture!

Sincerely,

Pauline Fallon

Susquehanna County Farm Bureau

There's no denying it. President Obama's economic policy is working; the numbers prove it. Look at the monthly unemployment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from the end of last year to now: 9.1, 9.0, 8.6, 8.5, 8.3.

Yes, everything's getting better, everything, that is, except the economy.

Consider these stats: New home sales hit an all-time record low in 2011. More than 20 million Americans are living in “extreme poverty” - the poorest of the poor - is at a record high. The number of Americans receiving food stamps is a record-breaking 46 million.

About half the households are getting a monthly check from Uncle Sam just to get by. And more than 40 percent of families borrow just to make ends meet.

Why the disconnect? Unemployment is steadily dropping yet the economy is stuck between discouraging and dismal.

When the BLS releases its monthly unemployment headliner, the Washington factoid machine clinks forward to spin. Here's how.

The BLS tracks six measures of unemployment called U1 up to U6. The official rate is the one in the middle, U3. This is the proportion of the citizenry that are unemployed but are actively seeking employment. Historically, it ranges between 4 percent and 6 percent.

That takes the shine off the 8.3 since it is 66 percent higher than the BLS's average. So it's not time to pop the champagne cork just yet.

Next, let's consider what the BLS deletes from their much publicized U3.

U1 is the proportion of the labor force that has been unemployed for 15 weeks or longer.

U2 are those unemployed who have been fired, laid off, or completed temporary work.

U3 is the sum of U1 and U2 workers who are actively seeking work. It is the 8.3 percent “official” unemployment percentage.

U4 includes so-called “discouraged workers,” that is, whose who are no longer seeking work believing that it is impossible to find. Deleted.

U5 are those who would like to work and are able but have not looked for employment recently. Deleted.

Lastly, U6. It is the most comprehensive category for unemployment. It includes part-time workers. Deleted.

Subtracting all those deletions leaves us with the popularized U3 unemployment rate of 8.3 percent.

However if we add all the deletions to the 8.3 percent we get the U6 unemployment percentage. According to the BLS it's a staggering 15.1 percent. This is the third consecutive year that U6 has ranged between 15 percent and 17 percent of the workforce.

Are we there yet? Almost.

To get the final and real unemployment rate we must add another class of unemployed that U6 omits: those workers whose unemployment checks have run out, are not employed, and are no longer looking for work. That number is 7 million or 4.5 percent of the workforce. They’re disappeared, vanished from the BLS's rolls.

That's a grand total of 15.1 + 4.5 = 20 percent of the American workforce is jobless. A far cry from the “official” 8.3 percent.

In terms of the 153 million who are employable, 20 percent represents about 31 million Americans who are without a paycheck.

The 8.3 percent figure would lead one to believe that we're coming out of a recession, albeit the longest recession since the Great Depression. The real unemployment number of 20 percent is more like we're in a depression.

It is only the $4 billion that the federal government borrows every single day that obscures the economic strait the United States is in. When the fed is no longer able to attract buyers for its IOU's (Treasury paper) at its current rock-bottom interest rate, grim depression-era reality will set in once again.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA