text: "Drawing a distinction between our churches and our ministries struck me ...like asking me to draw a distinction between my arms and my torso: ....  our charities and universities [are] expressions of our Catholic faith ..."  They may be "expressions of faith", but many Catholic operated charities are primarily funded by tax dollars - for example, roughly 75% of Catholic Charities budget comes from government money.  The Catholic church competes with other groups for govt. contracts to operate various social services as charities, adoption agencies, etc.  These Catholic church operated groups, funded by tax money, should not be exempt from whatever relevant requirements exist for non-Catholic organizations who are also government contractors  The Catholic church is trying to have its cake and eat it - it wants the government money but also wants to be able refuse to comply with RFP requirements for government contracts for social services. No prob if the church doesn't accept tax money