‘Religious Freedom Violations’: These Are the Obama Admin‘s Contraceptive Mandate ’Concessions’
- Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:30pm by
Billy Hallowell
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As the contraceptive mandate continues to be a topic of conversation in media and on the campaign trail, the Obama administration has been faced with a difficult scenario: either make concessions or risk potential political fallout.
The national conversation surrounding Rush Limbaugh and Sandra Fluke did, to a degree, temporarily relieve some pressure from officials. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church and its supporters have been adamant about the religious freedom violations associated with the mandate. Now, it seems officials have moved, albiet slightly, in a direction faith leaders may find palatable.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attempted to make a concession, however it is not yet known how churches will react to the proposed changes. Religion News Service explains the plan in the following terms:
At its heart, the newest offering from the White House would allow religious groups — dioceses, denominations and others — to decide which affiliated institutions are “religious” and therefore exempt from the new requirement that employers offer free contraception coverage as part of employee insurance plans.
The proposals are an effort by the administration to blunt criticisms of the controversial birth control insurance regulation, especially by the nation’s Catholic bishops, who have been at loggerheads with the White House since President Obama announced the contraception mandate in January.
According to information posted by the government, the changes would expand the number of groups that will be exempt from the president’s contraception rule. Additionally, the administration made another intriguing change involving faith groups that self-insure, proposing that third-party companies provide the controversial coverage free of charge (or course nothing in life is truly free). Politico has more about the options that the administration is considering on this front:
An administration official explained during a background call with reporters Friday that the administration is considering three options for self-insured plans:
- Require the companies that self-insured plans hire to manage their employee benefits, called third-party administrators, to cover the cost of these benefits out of revenues not connected with the religiously affiliated employer.
- Cover the cost of the benefit by having the new reinsurance program established by the health care reform law pay rebates to third-party administrators.
- Have a separate insurance company provide the benefit to these employees.
A third portion to the rules addresses student health plans that are offered by universities. In a move that would clearly make Fluke proud, college health care plans will need to follow similar rules in terms of offering contraceptives to students (this will not include self-funded plans).
“Officials at the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury today took the next step in the Obama administration’s effort to ensure women access to recommended preventive services while respecting religious liberty,” reads the statement on the HHS web site.
It continues, “This policy will provide women with access to recommended preventive services including contraceptives without cost sharing, while ensuring that non-profit religious organizations are not forced to pay for, provide, or facilitate the provision of any contraceptive service they object to on religious grounds.”
The newest changes come after a Feb. 10 decision — following intense controversy — by the Obama administration to change the original mandate to say that insurance companies and not religious employers must provide the contraceptive coverage. This, of course, did little to stem debate.
While a minority of Catholic leaders accepted the changes, Bishops, among others, rejected the notion that the federal government should be forcing employers, via increased premiums, to violate conscience. There was also the issue of how the government would designate which organizations are, indeed, religious in nature. The new, 32-page proposal attempts to tackle these grievances.
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards was quick to praise these new proposals in a statement issued late last week.
“The proposal released today make clears that the Obama administration is fulfilling its promise that women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays and no additional hurdles, no matter where they work,” Richards said on Friday. “Women who buy health insurance from their college or university will have access to affordable birth control, just like women who receive health insurance from their employer.”
But even if Catholic leaders do come on board, there are larger issues for the Obama administration to consider. What about business owners who don’t own a religiously-affiliated institution, but who still believe that providing contraceptives is morally reprehensible? On Thursday, the first lawsuit of this sort was launched against the federal government. The Hill reports:
The Obama administration’s controversial birth-control mandate saw its first legal challenge Thursday from an employer not affiliated with any religious institution.
The latest challenge comes from the owner of a Missouri-based holding company, who says it violates his religious freedom. Although several other suits have been filed, they have all come from religious-affiliated employers such as Catholic universities.
The conservative American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) filed the suit on behalf of Frank O’Brien, the owner of O’Brien Industrial Holdings.
The overall issue of government intrusion into the private affairs of businesses will be present in this debate even if all of the religious concerns are dismissed. O‘Brien’s case is only one of a great many individual grievances that are likely to result from the controversial mandate.
(H/T: Religion News Service)
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Comments (59)
EP46
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:15amCan someone take the 1st picture of barry pointing his finger and put Gov. Brewer in in …please !!!
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:52amThe left wing is trying to deny that they‘re trying to eradicate religious freedoms when that’s exactly what they’re doing.
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 12:56amI hope I do not have to tell the Catholic Church not to believe anything this administration promises.
Report Post »fbanta
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 12:44amThe 1st Amendment denies the federal government any authority to restrict the free exercise of religion. Period. The 14th Amendment extends that prohibition to State and local government. So it doesn’t matter a whit what any member of the Legislative says; what any member of the Executive says, or what any member of the Judicial Branch says. They clearly and unequivocally have no such authority to restrict the free exercise of religion. Those who have no religious beliefs against contraception, abortion, or any other act are free to offer what they want. But no one can mandate that any individual or organization violate their religious beliefs. Read the Constitution people. It is really simple to comprehend.
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 12:21amGod will have the last word and judgement for these Marxist anti-Christs!
Report Post »befree2012
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 11:06pmI’m amazed how many religious organizations want government handouts (as they rob from the taxpayers to fund one of their worthy causes), but don’t want to abide by government mandates. I say end all welfare to organization, countries, companies and individuals including Obamacare. And give me my own money, so that I can purchase my own health insurance and give to those charities I see fit.
Report Post »bigspike
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:30ama ‘government mandate’ to violate the precepts of your religious faith is unconstitutional
Report Post »Marian Too
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 10:52pmWe don‘t respect the Indian’s use of “sacred” peyote in their religious ceremonies.. We didn‘t respect the Mormon belief in multiple wives and we sure don’t respect human sacrifice in another religion. Why would anyone think we would or should respect the Catholics when they claim their right to refuse to provide birth control coverage in insurance? We do not respect any religion over another. I believe Obama should have stood his ground instead of caving to the Catholics.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 10:34pmA national rally is planned for Friday, March 23rd, from noon until 1pm to stand up for religious liberty.
http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 9:24pmYeah, come on all you women, ya‘ll know ya’ll sluts come on now, we gat da whitey producer taxpaya paying for ya’ll playing, with da long legged mac daddies, waiting for yo, sweet young kocchies.
OBAMA is a disgusting degenerate promoting degeneracy. WOMEN you are NOT LIBERATED by acting like sluts for men, in fact you are enslaved by degenerate men.
This is a perfect example of evil coming at you as “good.”
Report Post »Stephen Markovich
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 10:10pmexcellent analogy!
Report Post »jzs
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 10:34pmThank you CulperGang for expressing the Tea Party position so concisely and so eloquently. I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Catholics, all Americans really, especially the true blue patriots understand what you are saying, and understand that your “jive talk” is only a representation of the reality of the liberal position and those who supports the idea of insurance coverage of prescription hormones and why they hold that position, so to speak. You my friend are a fine American, and I bow to your logic as well as your telling way, your unique way, of conveying the the truth and your ability to express that truth using the language of the culture at issue.
You, my friend, have a true understanding of the issues, and a unique ability of expression that many strive toward, but few achieve.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:53amJZS – It’s not my fault that left wingers like you are against freedom of religion.
Report Post »Chrison
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:51pm“But even if Catholic leaders do come on board, there are larger issues for the Obama administration to consider. What about business owners who don’t own a religiously-affiliated institution, but who still believe that providing contraceptives is morally reprehensible?”
Exactly! This is the whole crux of the issue! The religious freedoms guaranteed in the 1st amendment aren’t just for organizations… they extend to every citizen. So, even if the administration manages to quell the fears and objections of religious organizations, they’re still shafting individuals who happen to own a business and have religious objections to the mandate.
The bottom line, folks, is that Obama is trying to create socialized health care through the back door because he knows Americans would revolt if he did it outright. So, instead of just nationalizing health care outright and be done with it, he’s doing it piece by piece, regulation by regulation until the government gets total control through the back door.
The choice for Americans is quite simple… Do you want socialized health care or not? If you do, then I’m sure you support Obamacare. If you don’t, then no matter what “accommodations” Obama and the HHS come up with you’re still going to get shafted if Obamacare gets in. It’s just going to be a “death of a thousand cuts” instead of implementation of socialized medicine in one fell swoop.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:30pmThere’s no concessions with Obama! He canceled the “Religious Conscience” clause that was part of the Health Care Law (Obamacare). Anything less than the reinstatement of the clause would be capitulation!
Report Post »President Obama is an arrogant tyrant!
possom
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:23pmIf king obie “the job killer” want’s this so bad he should pay for it!!!!!!
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:29pmHitler never met with a Pope. The satan has met with God on several occasions and look there satan is meeting with the Pope.
Report Post »G.E.R
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:20pmWhat about all the violations the catholic church has committed and the nazi pope that leads them
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:36pmPlease G.E.R., we are not talking about the Pope now, we are talking about a Nazi president.
Report Post »genennene
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:49pmThere is a better chance that you are a Nazi than Pope Benedict.
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:14pmLOL that picture of Obama with that goofy smile is too much.
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:15pmThis site does seem to choose only the most flattering of images for our Commander in Chief
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:21pmVOTEBUSH
Report Post »I miss the creepy pictures of Cheney. The sinister looks that man can give will put the fear of Allah in the bravest of souls.
Sparky101
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:29pmHave you not seen the photos of conservatives that libby media outlets always use? Isn’t turnabout fair play?
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:06pmObama the clown says women don’t have reproductive rights without obamacare. What a fool!
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:12pmThat’s not how you spell Gandhi.
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:32pmThat’s not how you spell Ceht.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:25amThey quote Planned Parenthood and the people at PP do not realize this will shut down all PP. Only one good thing could come from all this ‘forced preventive’ care of obama…..there would be NO NEED FOR Planned Parenthood….insurance companies would be forced to pay for everything PP does now……has PP realized this ????
Report Post »TDOM
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:00pmNovember – America’s Big choice – GOOD or EVIL – I choose Good
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:14pmI also plan to vote for Obama.
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:19pmI’m on the fence about this one.
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:39pmthat filthy animal obama will be fleeing America to one of his safe houses in a commie or muslim nation overseas long before November, he keeps getting caught in his lies and all of the crimes he’s committed against America. we’d love to see him get caught and do the Saddam Dangle, tho. we’d bring popcorn and have a tailgate party.
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 11:10pm@MAMMALONE
I should invest in a troll account. I can only be logical with these people for so long before I am tempted towards sarcasm and mockery…
Good thing this site permits mailinator accounts – the amount of win is endless.
Report Post »bigmel754
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:55pm“There was also the issue of how the government would designate which organizations are, indeed, religious in nature”.
Report Post »If there is to be separation of state and church; which so many claim must happen, then why does the government still want to control the say of who is a religious organization and who is not? Just another hand of three card monte! Which according to Wikipedia: “Three-card Monte, also known as the Three-card marney, Three-card trick, Three-Way, Three-card shuffle, Menage-a-card, Triplets, Follow the lady, Les Trois Perdants (French for Three Losers), le Bonneteau, Find the lady, Bola bola or Follow the Bee is a confidence game in which the victim, or mark, is tricked into betting a sum of money, on the assumption that they can find the money card among three face-down playing cards.” Guess which side will be the victim or mark? Or as the French say Trois Perdants!
lukerw
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:54pmThis is not a Religious War… rather, a War of Liberals v Conservatives… alike, those loyal to the King v the RoundHeads in England, in the American Revolution, and the Civil War… just continued!
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:03pmI thought you were a loyalist.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:26pmLoyalty to the Constitution… makes me a RoundHead… and opposed to Kings & Dictators!
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:37pmOh my bad. I didn’t think you were a RP supporter.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:27am@JUST…
Report Post »I am not a RP Supporter; I am AntiSocialist/Progressive… having lived in Europe for some years… where your only choice is between Communists & Nazis!
justangry
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:41amWell one can make the argument that we only have a chioce between Commies and Nazi’s here. Perhaps not as distinct as in Europe, but we’re heading that way. Then you have RP the Constitutionalist. Forgive me, I don’t understand. What parts of the Constitution are you loyal to?
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:53pmMichelle is still searching for the ruby slippers.
Report Post »bigspike
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:34amhey…be nice…she’s still in mourning for her sister who got a hose dropped on her
Report Post »bigspike
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:35amoops. that should have been ‘house’…GACK! the idea of anyone willing to ‘drop hose’ on the Wookie’s sister is enough to make me lose my lunch
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:50pmNo matter the subject there is always some evil intention behind it with these government thugs and this is what i have learned in three and a half years.You?
Report Post »bigspike
Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:38amit took you THAT long? oh, well…welcome to reality; truth is, these ‘progressives’ have been trying to ‘progress’ the American public into serfdom for about a century or so
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:48pmI once interviewed Carol Falsani about her book THE GOD FACTOR, back in 2004. One of her interviews was with Senator Barack Obama. She quizzed him on Christianity. He declared, “All paths lead to the same place.” There are some other interesting responses in that article as well. Well, as any Christian knows, all paths do not lead to the same place. All but one do, but not the path created by Jesus Christ. I often think of that article when I hear this poser-in-chief lie, spin, flip-flop; then lie again. Very interesting to watch a secular leader pretend he is otherwise.
Report Post »Not going to take it anymore
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:47pmCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof:
Report Post »You do not DECIDE who or what is a religious organization so help you God!
tricia
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:54pmEXACTLY, He is violating his oath of office. IMPEACH this so-called law professor.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:42pmAwfully big of you, letting us keep some of our rights. I feel like Oliver Twist “Please sir, may I have More?”
Report Post »Here you go drone, get in line, we are the Govt, you are the worker. Be grateful for what we allow you to keep, like your money, your property, and now, your potential children.
Just be glad they are letting us keep our balls.
MrKnowItAll
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:41pmThe last photo posted of Obama in this article makes me think Rock Hudson would have been a Huge Campaign Donor to Obama. I mean people in Detroit Love Obama. They actually had to stop calling the disease AIDS by a different name in Detroit. Too many people were showing up Saying….”I need Aids man!” AKA Obama Money!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:39pmAh don’t worry, after 2013 it will all be in the rear-view.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:01pmWhat’s so special about 2013?
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:24pmTim
Report Post »I have a feeling your house is covered in newspaper clippings and pictures of people tacked to the wall with red string connecting them. Maybe a map or two with some arrangement of tacks that suggest a hidden secret?
justangry
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:40pmHah Mama! Now I have this image in my head…. and I‘m picturing a cat box that’s 3 weeks overdue for a some new litter as well.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:41pmThe asteroids are coming…sorry Tim, we all forgot.
Report Post »