Bishops Were Prepared for Battle Over Birth Control Coverage

The New York Times ^ | Feb 9, 2012 | By LAURIE GOODSTEIN

[Mrs. Don-o]

When ...the Obama administration finally announced its decision to require religiously affiliated [organizations] to cover birth control in their insurance plans, the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops were fully prepared for battle.

Seven months earlier, they had started laying the groundwork for a major new campaign ... But the birth control mandate, issued on Jan. 20, was their Pearl Harbor.

Hours after President Obama phoned to share his decision with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York ...the USCCB posted on its Web site a video of Archbishop Dolan, which had been recorded the day before. “Never before,” Archbishop Dolan said, setting the tone, “has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience .”

But Catholics may be persuaded by the argument that the mandate is a violation of religious liberty. [S]everal prominent Catholic Democrats who supported Mr. Obama in 2008... have broken with him on the birth control mandate.

Michael Sean Winters, a writer for National Catholic Reporter, a liberal independent weekly, said: “I think they misjudged that no matter what people think about contraception, that’s an internal Catholic debate. Catholics do not like interlopers.”

Douglas W. Kmiec, who served as ambassador to Malta under Mr. Obama and is now a professor of constitutional law at Pepperdine University, said he was disappointed that such a divisive course was chosen by a president who urged respect for others’ religious traditions. “For people attracted to him for those reasons, who applaud the very passage of the health care law, we are just sort of baffled by this,” Mr. Kmiec said. “Especially when the train wreck was foreseen, and we kept saying, ‘Not this track, not this track.’ And here came the train and ran us all over.”

[Mrs. Don-o]

I excerpted heavily, but go to the link because its an interesting read. As the lies hurtle around the world again and again and again, are the Bishops finally tying their shoes?

Or (to change the metaphor) are their finally putting away the checker board and learning to play chess

Oremus.

[mckenzie7]

Do Catholic Institutions get a break with the cost of health care from providers because of the reduced coverage, or is it just a wink, wink, nod, nod?

Still don't understand it.

[muawiyah]

The Bishops probably still think the Democrats mean well.

How utterly stupid of them.

[Vendome]

BTTTRFL

Wish there was a way to set a reminder to read this. I’m on my phone in Utah and can read full article right now.

[Lady Lucky]

Winters, a writer for National Catholic Reporter, a liberal independent weekly, said: “...Catholics do not like interlopers.”

Many things I would call it. "Interloping" is not among them.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Sometimes commies take conservative positions because to not do so would put an end to all of their subversion. If I called the shots, they'd still be drummed out on their apostate cans.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

It is my opinion that the Bishops should continue their battle. Obama is using smoke, mirrors and bs.

[Lady Lucky]

"...we are just sort of baffled by this," Mr. Kmiec said.

Many things one might be; just-sort-of-baffled should not be among them.

[Keen-Minded]

The Bishops should wake up. He didn’t fix anything. They still would have to provide the service against their will even though its paid for by insurance companies.

[HChampagne]

Obama is killing himself laughing. Now birth control and morning after pills are an entitlements, and a free one. This genie is never going back into the bottle.

[ScottinVA]

I wouldn`t expect this to be a major political problem for 0bama. With “American Idol” back on the tube, most Americans aren`t even paying attention to the issue, and among those who are, at least half (if reflective of national poll #s) are going to support 0bama`s stance anyway.

Come November, this will all be long forgotten.

[ScottinVA]

The bishops just needed a minor CYA and it appears they got it. Now it`s back to defending 0bama`s social justice agenda.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

I doubt many Catholics are fooled by this Marxist Demon.

[ScottinVA]

We`ll see. IIRC, the RC leadership seemed quite happy with Obamacare and Cap & Tax.

[RedMDer]

All contributions are for the Current Quarter Expenses.

[Walkingfeather]

““For people attracted to him for those reasons, who applaud the very passage of the health care law, we are just sort of baffled by this,” Mr. Kmiec said. “Especially when the train wreck was foreseen, and we kept saying, ‘Not this track, not this track.’ And here came the train and ran us all over.”

For those that recall kemic and how we were baffled at his support of Obama it is interesting to see that he still is Baffled. I know Doug (I have eaten lunch with both he and his wife, my guess is none of you have) . The man’s mind is beyond brilliant in terms of Constitutional law.... DONT EVEN SCOFF believe me.... BUT HERE IS MY POINT. You can be a freaking off the chart brilliant scholar... AND not have wisdom and discernment... THOSE are the qualities we need to pray for in our leaders....

[Jenny217]

“Mr. Kmiec said. “Especially when the train wreck was foreseen” -

The Obama train wreck was not unforeseen, it was predictable for anyone paying attention.

[Salvation]

**WERE**?? I believe theh still ARE!

<The Obama HHS 'Compromise' Switches the Tiger for the Lion (Not all Catholics buying Obama's bull)
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Southern Baptist leader: Obama gave Christians ‘the dismissive back’ of his hand
Obama's Act of Tyranny
Bishops Were Prepared for Battle Over Birth Control Coverage

Don't Be Deceived! Evil Obama Policy Now Even MORE Evil!
Obama’s Contraceptive 'Compromise' Doesn't Pass the Smell Test ("It doesn't change a thing")
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Pres. Obama’s “Plan B” compromise, Sr. Keehan, and the Magisterium of Nuns
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(Exempt Catholics) Joe Biden, Bill Daley warned of contraceptive backlash
(Tim) Thomas makes second political statement (Stands With Catholics)
Southern Baptist leader: If Obama mandate isn’t changed, Christians will go to jail
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Boehner vows to overturn Obama’s birth control coverage rule
Boehner: Congress to overturn birth control policy if Obama does not reverse course
O'Brien says Archdiocese of Baltimore won't offer birth control coverage
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‘I am going to stick with fellow Catholics’ in Pres. Obama’s war on Catholics. Wherein Fr. Z rants.
Unholy War
Six Things Everyone Should Know about the HHS Mandate
Santorum: Obama Hostile to Christians
Understanding Oppostion to the HHS Mandate (Part 1): Why the Church Won’t Pay for Contracept

The Bishops Chickens Coming Home to Roost.
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Doug Kmiec Writes Obama: 'Friendship Will Not Permit Me to Disregard Duty to Faith and Country'
Catholic Outcry Over Obama Administration's Birth Control Decision Could Factor In Presidential Race
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Catholic Military Archdiocese & Chaplains interfered with last Sunday by Pres. Obama’s Admin
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Sen. Rubio introduces bill to reverse Obama birth control mandate
Churches balk at birth control rule - Catholics won’t comply, Bishop Kevin Rhoades says
Protestants and Jews declare to White House: We stand with Catholics
Checking the Air Outside [Bp. Zubik's follow up to Obama's “To Hell with You”]
Mohler [Southern Baptist] Says Insurance Mandate Not Just 'Catholic' Issue
An Open Letter to President Barack Obama Concerning Recent Tyranny (With Pictures!)
Lincoln bishop: prepare for 'suffering' under HHS mandate
Bishop David Zubik confronts Obama
Obama’s ‘war on the church’

Pope hits out at 'radical secularism'
‘We Will Not Comply’: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
‘We Will Not Comply’: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
Bruskewitz: Fight Insurance Ruling [Sebelius a "bitter, fallen away Catholic"]
Letter from Archbishop John G. Vlazny on the matter of freedom of conscience and decisions by HHS
Bishop Olmsted's Letter to Catholics [Catholic Caucus]
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Contraception mandate prompts Peoria bishop to instate St. Michael Prayer (Catholic Caucus)
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A letter from Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr concerning HHS edict

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Bishop [Daniel Jenky] Blasts Secularist Intolerance, Calls For ‘Assertive Action’ to Defend Church
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OBAMA’S CONTEMPT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (mandates coverage of sterilization & contraception)
Implications of Obama Admin move to force Cath hospitals to provide contraception and sterilizations
Catholic doctors’ group launches petition against contraception mandate
Contraception mandate tramples religious freedom, US bishops say

[Salvation]

Dear CV Friend,

What just happened?

The truth: the assault on religious liberty just got worse.

Moments ago President Obama introduced an accounting gimmick to appease voters over his recent Health and Human Services mandate. The so-called compromise will continue to force virtually all employers, including religious institutions, to pay into insurance policies that cover abortion drugs and other immoral medicines and procedures.

What's the catch?

To protect himself from the national backlash, the President announced a "compromise" that will allow religious institutions to withhold premiums paid to insurance companies for select medicines and procedures they believe are immoral.

But these immoral medicines and drugs will continue to be provided by the same insurance plans for free -- to everyone, including every employee of Catholic institutions!

So President Obama decided to use insurance companies to hide his assault on religious liberty.

Separating the premiums paid to insurance companies does not change what these policies will cover. The very same policies funded by religious institutions will continue to cover contraception, birth control, and abortion drugs for every employee of these organizations. To pretend, by an accounting gimmick, that the premiums paid by the employer will not subsidize these services is simply absurd.

Furthermore, self-funded insurance plans (like many of those used by Catholic institutions) will continue to be forced to provide these immoral medicines.

And owners of businesses who believe abortion drugs are immoral? Sorry. To hell with liberty. Pay up.

All Americans should shudder at what has just transpired.

Despite repeated promises during the healthcare debate in 2009, the President of the United States has created a sham conscience compromise, and ordered all insurance companies to pay for abortion drugs -- and all religious institutions will be forced to pay into these plans.

He thought he could get away with this assault on our freedom. We called him out and forced him to respond. Now we must call his bluff.

This isn't the end.

CV President Brian Burch has been on the phone all morning with members of Congress urging them to immediately introduce legislation that will protect the conscience rights of all Americans.

Catholics don't want an accounting gimmick.

We want freedom.

And we won't rest until we get it.


- Your Friends at CatholicVote.org

[Salvation]

When 95 percent of the U. S. dioceses and their bishops speak out against Obama — I don’t think it stupid of them.