The Resurrection and Long Range Planning For The Long View

And The Life

There is a predominant view that this is not all there is- that the hundred or so years that one moves around planet earth (if you are lucky) are not the end. There is a life after this- and the catholic view of the world is that there is a resurrected body. Something like the physical matter you currently inhabit which gets buried in the ground is reconstituted spiritually in another form of a body that has cognizeable individuality recognizeable to your loved ones as you. Jesus when he appeared after he died came back as himself, not in a borrowed body or a ghostly apparation but his body, holes and all. It was him- dead then resurrected in a resurrected body. There is a 'beatific vision' of this holy city on a hill in paradise where the resurrected bodies live somewhere in another dimension of space/time or another.

In the Catholicism series of Father Barron (ten part DVD set I highly recommend if you are wondering why anyone would stay catholic) there is an interesting surmise regarding what this body might be like- it might be as if we have a two dimensional representation here and now, and that is transmorphed into a three D body in an effluence of energy (sort of...have to watch the dvd to get it) the same way as if you look at a flat triangle on a piece of paper that gets lifted into a pyramid. The triangle is within the pyramid's expression but the fullness of the triangle in a more expansive form is a pyramid.

Consequently, the attributes of the physicality of a person in catholic theology have identity with eternal consequences. Think about that for a minute. There are verses in old/first testament scripture in which the Lord is attributed with saying things like "I knew you before you were born in your mother's womb."
He had the DNA mapped. He knew what you were going to over the fullness of time become. And our journey is complete ending with him. He wants us back to him.

So catholics believe that every conception is an act of God's Will. And every interuption of it a thwarting or defiance of it or rebellion against it. This is what they teach and believe. Strongly. So strongly you can get kicked out of places if you voice disagreement. You should not want to interfere with God's will, because it brings only disaster and pain.

So if catholic institutions have to by some government mandate pay for abortofascients or provide abortion payments through tax dollars or insurance premiums even provide contraception, then that is viewed as forcing them to condemn themselves violating God's will. That I gather is the hooplah with the HHS mandate. Catholic institutions would rather not violate God's will where it comes to life and death issues. It matters more than political parties.
It is deeply founded in their theology.


I am as exasperated as the next guy that every election cycle it seems the Bishops dredge up some issue to tilt elections toward Republicans. But I do see a possible freedom of religion issue in forcing people to violate their religious principles here from a constitutional perspective. I believe you have to understand the root of the theology to appreciate it.

Constitutionally then the issue becomes what is the counterveiling public health benefit and why should the government's measures trump any freedom of religion concern. The Pope himself has said contraception helps stop the spread of AIDS. That analysis takes place whenever someone is claiming that their first amendment freedoms are being infringed upon by the government. No one is arguing that pregnancy is a disease. They are arguing that the diseases one can get by unprotected sex are thwarted by the government's measure and the government has a duty to enact measures that protect public health.