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Bishops Reject Obama Administration’s ‘Accommodation’ on Contraception Mandate

Feb. 8, 2013 7:30pm Christopher Santarelli

The Obama administration announced last week that they would modify the contraception mandate of ObamaCare to allow religious institutions to provide health insurance coverage that doesn’t include birth control–sort of. While religious nonprofits will not have to directly offer coverage that includes contraception, the law will still automatically provide free birth-control coverage for women employed by religious groups through a third-party issuer.

“We are extremely disappointed with today’s announcement,” Kyle Duncan, one of the attorneys representing christian-owned retail chain Hobby Lobby, said to the Tulsa World. The chain has challenged the Affordable Care Act requirements in federal court. “We remain committed to protecting religious liberty until the administration recognizes the conscience rights of all Americans.”

The most vocal critic of the HHS mandate and this ‘accommodation’ has been New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Because the stakes are so high, we will not cease from our effort to assure that healthcare for all does not mean freedom for few,” Dolan said in a statement rejecting three-fourths of the mandate change. “Throughout the past year, we have been assured by the Administration that we will not have to refer, pay for, or negotiate for the mandated coverage.”

A statement from the Conference of Bishops this Friday says the HHS proposal to change the mandate falls short in meeting the Church’s concerns.

Cardinal Dolan highlighted problems with the proposed “accommodation.”

“It appears that the government would require all employees in our ‘accommodated’ ministries to have the illicit coverage—they may not opt out, nor even opt out for their children—under a separate policy,” he said.

He also noted that “because of gaps in the proposed regulations, it is still unclear how directly these separate policies would be funded by objecting ministries, and what precise role those ministries would have in arranging for these separate policies. Thus, there remains the possibility that ministries may yet be forced to fund and facilitate such morally illicit activities.”

Cardinal Dolan also said the proposal refuses to acknowledge conscience rights of business owners who operate their businesses according to their faith and moral values.

“In obedience to our Judeo-Christian heritage, we have consistently taught our people to live their lives during the week to reflect the same beliefs that they proclaim on the Sabbath,” Cardinal Dolan said. “We cannot now abandon them to be forced to violate their morally well-informed consciences.”

On ‘Real News‘ Friday the panel reviewed the modifications to the contraception mandate and analyzed the Catholic Bishops’ concerns. How long could this lawsuit drag out? Is there any compromise on this when it comes to religious liberty? Watch a clip from ‘Real News’ on TheBlaze TV below with Rev. Robert Sirico, President of the Acton Institute:

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Comments (23)

youshuthehellup
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:45pm
There were actually a lot of bishops coming forward, however they were ignored and liberal coocoo’s in the church just did their own thing and ignored the bishops that were speaking out and one who fearlessly spoke up (Cardinal Timothy Dolan) was just looked upon as a nut! The christians ,catholics and all who dumped morality and conscience to vote for the demon will be held accountable. They are guilty of destroying our childrens future and they did so willingly! Soon even these sell outs will realize the harm they have caused -obamas destruction will touch everyone.

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Cat_Ion
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 2:37pm
It seems to me that the obvious answer is to have the Federal gov’t stay out of the healthcare business.

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chucksue351
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 12:21pm
first and foremost sunday is NOT the sabbath, the catholic church does not have the authority to change laws of Father YHVH period.

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Tepeyac
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:14am
Why were the bishops so quiet before Obummer was elected? They should be ashamed of themselves.! Period!!! I’m sick of their hipocrisy!!!

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Gonzo
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 10:08am
Did anyone really think Obama would budge an inch? Why should he? Who’s going to stop him? The SCOTUS and the last election were our only hopes of stopping Obamacare. America thinks he’s “cool” so we’re stuck with it.

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barber2
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 10:02am
The real issue : is it the responsibility of the government to provide for the health care of citizens ? Why not housing then ? Why not transportation ? Where is that written in the Constitution ?

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KevINtampa
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 4:11am
The Catholic Church didn’t see the devil in the details and threw support behind Obamacare. Now they are shocked that deals with the devil always bite you in the buttocks down the road.

The leadership at the top of the Catholic Church has been completely inept. It’s no wonder they are are about to implode according to an anointed Catholic prophet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes

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betterpart
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 2:59am
….as long as it comes soley out of the Dems’ pockets….Wonder if they would pay for a guy’s vasectomy?

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Keatonc333
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 12:08am
This is exactly how it should be! If you are a church or non profit christian organization then yes, no birth control! that is your right under the 1st amendment! But if you are the CEO of a fortune 500 company who pays taxes and is NOT a religious organization then you should not be able to punish your employees based on your personal beliefs, as they are also covered under the 1st amendment.

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- I_AM_HARRISON_BERGERON
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 1:00am
  How would they be “punishing” their employees by not providing them with something that has no Constitutional rights whatsoever?
  
  Report this comment
- KevINtampa
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 4:14am
  There’s such a thing as an interview. If contraception is that big of a deal ask about it in your interview. If it’s important to you that they cover it and they don’t you are more than welcome to decline the position, it’s still a free country you know….
  
  Or do you not understand what freedom means?
  
  Report this comment
- RealLiibertarian
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 7:02am
  So when do we get to excersize our freedom to tell the churches and their sanctimonious members where to stick their outdated, bronze age rules and morality?
  
  Report this comment
- I_AM_HARRISON_BERGERON
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 7:35am
  REALLIBERTARION… You just did. Liberty means that you are free do say what you please without fear of punishment. You can do as you please as long as it does not violate the rights of another to enjoy the same liberties as you. You may arm yourself in order to defend yourself from those that would take your liberty away.You may not deny others the liberty to practice the religion of their choice lest they exercise their liberty to take up arms against you.
  You see, this liberty stuff is just not that complicated, once you realize that it exists equally for all.
  
  Report this comment
- RealLiibertarian
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 8:03am
  Harrison- the religious right violates that idea every day. They want us all to accede to their morality when it comes to women’s choice, gay marriage, censorship of the media. They don’t limit that to what they, personally, do, they want legislation that inflicts their beliefs on the rest of us. They have no problem telling me how I should live, but when I say no and push back, they whine about persecution. No, absolutely no sympathy for the churches and their followers. When they come out of their churches and into the world, they can expect to be treated just like any other business.
  
  Report this comment
- I_AM_HARRISON_BERGERON
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 8:51am
  reallibertarian,
  After a recent move, I am currently not attending any church as I have not yet found one that fits with my beliefs. No church violates my liberty in any way. I am not dragged into any church against my will, nor am I a slave to the bidding of any church. When I CHOOSE to become a member or a church THEY will want me to live up to the values or THEIR institution. MY freedom of choice still belongs solely to ME. YOU seem to want to restrict those who wish to practice the religion of THEIR choice.
  If I am wrong, please clarify your argument.
  
  Report this comment
- RealLiibertarian
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 9:36am
  I have no problem with who, what, or how people worship. Catholic, Evanglical, Hindu, Satanist, whatever. Makes no difference to me. What I have a problem with is when the conservative religous right decides that they know what is best for all of, even those not of their particular denomination or sect, and tr to get their particular dogma enshrined in law. I don’t care if that is the Muslims trying to impose Sharia, or the Evangelicals trying to ‘return us to a Christian country’. As it is in this country today, anytime those of us demand our rights to not be ruled by conservative Christian dogma, we are accused of persecuting Christians. Not being allowed to have the top billing and exclusive rights to the pulpit is NOT persecution. There are many religions in this country today, and even many denominations of Christianity Every one of them has equal rights, none is more important than the other. They scream and yell if we object to having to listen to a Christian prayer at a public meeting, but object even louder if we demand, or even suggest that the meeting be started with a prayer from a nonChristian religion, or even if it’s a Christian that they don’t consider ‘pure’ enough. I don’t subscribe to the narrow morality that the right espouses, and I have the right to do that. They don’t have the right to pass laws that limit my choices to their morality.
  
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- I_AM_HARRISON_BERGERON
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 10:13am
  Reallibertarian,
  I won’t deny for a second that your argument has some basis of truth. But there are some basic fundamental flaws as well. You see, “conservative religious right” is an oxymoron, and is a great example of the many fundamental misunderstandings that is tearing the Republican party and the nation apart. Misapplied labels make it impossible for the average individual to understand the nature of society. You see, on the political spectrum, far left represents total govt control. Far right represents no govt control or anarchy. Since the vast majority of us realize the folly of anarchy I will consider them a non-entity and deal only with conservatism and the left. Conservatism is by nature the belief in the minimum govt as being necessary to preserve the maximum liberty and freedom of a society. Many politicians do use their religious as a tool to gain govt control over others. So these would in fact be the Religious Left vice the well known Progressive Left.
  If we as a nation fully understood that concept we could much better come to common sense solutions to maintain the liberty of the nation. So we don’t want our nations “moral code” set by the “Religious Left” or the “Progressive Left”. When seeking a model for a “moral code” that best fit the needs of our nation, Christianity was the obvious model. But you are right, we are saddled with too many laws that fit the political needs of Christian politicians that don’t meet the intent of the Const
  
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- I_AM_HARRISON_BERGERON
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 10:47am
  Continued,
  In other words if you are going to call yourself conservative then understand and properly define conservativism and spread the word to those who mistakenly use labels like “Right Wing Conservatives” and “Religious Right” when they are referring to proponents of using religion for political power.
  
  Apply the principals of the political spectrum of Right – Conservative – Left as a reference when measuring the political intent of an issue and suddenly things become much more clear and we have a solid foundation on which to stand when measuring up political candidates.
  
  Report this comment
- RealLiibertarian
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:20am
  I’m not a fan of the linear representation of left and right. I think it’s far more of a circle with multiple options. I am a fan of small government, low taxes, and minding our own business, both as individuals and as a country. I’m also a fan of letting people live however the hell they want as long as they don’t tread on another’s rights physically or financially. Gay, straight, bi, polyamorous. Doesn’t bother me. Pro life, pro choice, again whatever your thing is right for you is OK by me. Censorship is evil. Period. So there is no way to put me on that line.
  
  True conservatives are really libertarians. Modern conservatives, however, hate that name and ideology because it doesn’t fit with their attitude that society must be directed and controlled. In that, you are correct. Libs and cons both think that society must be directed and controlled ‘for its own good’. The only difference is the list of things they think should be controlled.
  
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- I_AM_HARRISON_BERGERON
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 12:18pm
  Real:
  I can see your dilemma with the linear political model. However it does work when you understand that no one sits precisely at one single point. We would all fit into quite a few different points on a range of issues and even occupy a broad range on some issues.
  “Censorship is evil. Period.” tells me that on some aspects you lean nearly completely to the right, almost to the point of anarchy. I’m no fan of censorship, but the complete lack thereof would result in no moral code and a severely dysfunctional society.
  “Modern conservatives, however, hate that name and ideology because it doesn’t fit with their attitude that society must be directed and controlled”. Well then they wouldn’t really be conservatives then, would they? I think that you are more accurately referring to modern Republicans that are quite far left leaning. On a scale to 10 they would probably rank from 2-6 depending on the individual, whereas liberals and progressives lean from 5-8.
  Libertarians from my observation tend to range from 2-7 on the right side of the scale assuming one pinpoint the exact balance point between govt control, social liberty and individual liberty.
  Based on the info that you have provided, you seem to lie at various points fro 5-8 on the right… Very anti-govt.and I don’t begrudge you of your beliefs, but I do find it very easy to point out the dangers that lie with a govt that weak. Just as I often point out the dangers that lie with too powerful a govt.
  
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- Advection
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:13am
  @REALIBERTARIAN
  
  You disparage ancient morality.
  
  Please enlighten us about your superior “Information Age morality”. What are its foundations? Is murder wrong? Why? Is there any such thing as perversion? Prove it.
  
  Report this comment
Sharon Rose
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:40pm
This administration has no respect for America, Americans, the Constitution , and on and on and on.
There is a special place waiting for these people when they become room temperature.

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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:35pm
They need to whack him with their staffs as the Cardinals fly over and poop on him.

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