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February 12, 2012 in Nation/World
Bishops unswayed by Obama policy change
Exemption on contraceptives not enough
WASHINGTON – Catholic bishops say they remain opposed to President Barack Obama’s plan to require insurers to provide free birth control, even if religiously affiliated employers such as Catholic hospitals and universities aren’t forced to pay for it.
“The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said.
The statement, issued late Friday, makes clear that the bishops’ opposition goes well beyond the “religious freedom” dispute that had riled Washington for the last month. The government’s decision to guarantee women access to contraceptives “remains a grave moral concern,” they said.
On Friday morning, Obama had called New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan to tell him of the revised rule. Initially, Dolan described the move as a “first step in the right direction.”
But in the later statement, the bishops said they will continue to object because of Obama’s decision “to retain HHS’s nationwide mandate of insurance coverage of sterilization and contraception.”
“We will continue – with no less vigor, no less sense of urgency – our efforts to correct this problem through the other two branches of government,” they said.
The White House had no immediate comment on the statement.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act says health insurers must offer “preventive services” with no co-pays. And Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius defined these services to include “all FDA-approved forms of contraception.”
On Jan. 20, she said this mandate would take effect in August for most employers. Churches would be exempted from the rule, she said, but not religiously affiliated hospitals, colleges or charities, though they would be given an extra year to comply. Administration officials said that 28 states, including California and New York, already have similar rules for health insurance.
The Catholic bishops reacted fiercely, however, and called the “HHS edict … literally unconscionable.” They said it posed “an unprecedented threat to religious freedom.” They demanded a much broader “conscience exemption” so Catholic employers would not be required to subsidize birth control for their employees or for students at Catholic colleges.
Obama said Friday he had heard those objections and moved to exempt “religious organizations” from paying for contraceptives if they have a “religious objection.” Instead, insurers would be responsible for providing this coverage, which over time should add little or nothing to their costs.
Salmonella linked to chicken handling 
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on February 12 at 9:27 a.m.
Surprise, surprise.
Indie on February 12 at 9:52 a.m.
In the spirit of religious freedom the gov should also not include blood transfusions in the insurance plan - it offends Christian Scientist. For that matter, don’t allow any medical procedures, - that offends Jehovah’s Witnesses. So, in the interest of seperation of church and state just don’t offer health insurance - period. That way, no womens health, mens health , medical procedures , blood tranfusions or other “non christian” health care can offend anyone. The christian taliban wins again.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on February 12 at 10:02 a.m.
^ ^ ^ ^ LOL. Or we could just ignore them, and people who don’t want birth control don’t have to use it…
jimvw2 on February 12 at 10:03 a.m.
Screw the Catholic bishops, those virtuous protectors of pedophiles. Why don’t they take a more “productive” tack, and try reducing the demand for birth control pills from their own flock, 98% of whom currently use birth control pills?
Talk about a manufactured issue… They are clearly trying to pump up the prospects of Catholic presidential candidate Rick Santorum by handing him a controversy to Pontificate upon.
This is a manufactured controversy courtesy of the misogynists in the Republican Tea Party caucus. The festering hypocrisy of these creeps just reeks from this pile of B.S.
The tone deafness of these papal Mandarins to the needs of women and other American Roman Catholics is the reason I left the church after 55 years. Screw the bishops.
SMARTGUY on February 12 at 12:49 p.m.
Millions, if not tens of millions of catholics use birth control on a daliy basis. The only reason the bisops do not require birth control is they only have sex with little boys, and nuns, who they make abort, or kill the children and bury them in back of the church. You do not think this kind of thing ever happened, look it up, the facts speak for themselves.
richardch on February 12 at 1:38 p.m.
This isn’t just the Catholic church, it’s the Baptist church Jewish church and all other churches that do charity work and have employees. This is an attack on the first amendment or don’t you secular fundamentalists care about the first amendment unless you are breaking windows in Oakland or crapping on police cars in New York or burning the American flag.
stitch on February 12 at 2:09 p.m.
“The Governments decision to guarentee women access to contraceptives remains a grave moral concern”
Does this mean my Catholic Bishops that all those less than faithful Female members of your Man Made Rules who use contraceptives may be facing eternal damnation?? If that’s the case, there’s gonna be alot of very cold nights in heaven for your Catholic Brothers, and little use for their approved of condoms..
This issue burns my butt.. Time for a Lady Pope to turn this stupidity around..
Spokane_Citizen on February 12 at 2:48 p.m.
So…is there any particular reason to pay attention to the opinions of old men wearing silly hats and dresses?
Orphan on February 12 at 6:19 p.m.
Spokane_Citizen Yes there is a very good reason to pay attention the those old men its called the 1st Amendment.
The government has no business being involved in any way with contraception.
My last statement has nothing to do with religion.
stitch on February 12 at 8:11 p.m.
Orphan: If any one religious organization controlled this Country, our women may not be able to show their face, any form of contraception may be banned, and if you as a woman dare to violate, you could very well be taken out and shot.. Government in this Country has to protect its citizens from the extremes.. So yes, there has to be a watchdog.. If our Government were to ban a Womans right to contraception, I think We would no doubt agree on that issue..