Posted on 10/12/2012 2:58:34 PM PDT by DaveTesla
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement, October 12. Full text follows:
Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees:
"With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact." This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain "religious employers." That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to "Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital," or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.
HHS has proposed an additional "accommodation" for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as "non-exempt." That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation "to pay for contraception" and "to be a vehicle to get contraception." They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients. They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.
USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate.
Yep and the church is calling him on it.
Calling who on it?
Nutbag Biden
Biden was never mentioned in the "correction". A casual observer might as easily think they were correcting Ryan.
However, for some reason the text in this thread omits several lines:
That is a fact. That is a fact." [finishing Biden's quote.) This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain "religious employers." That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to "Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital," or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.
The omitted lines make it a tad more memorable: readers might recall Biden's repeated "That is a fact," and the reproof "This is not a fact" makes it a little sharper.
However, it still reads like Captain Kirk never noticed that Biden was lying until Lt. Commander Data calmly pointed out the inconsistency.
Why are they so bloodless?
Perhaps they are reluctantly fulfilling their responsibility but in a minimal way. Their hearts aren't in it they way it would be if the issue was about distributing wealth or opening the borders.
I know that seems harsh but considering their (continuing) history what else is one to think?
It would be nice if the knives in the back weren’t from fellow Christians.
I'm sure tired of it and wish our leaders would stand firm against them.
I've seen some positive signs of late but as you may have noticed I am fed up with waiting for our shepherds to rid us of these wolves in sheep's clothing.
Correction: An obtuse observer might as easily think they were correcting Ryan.
Not all Catholics are political junkies, but all Catholics deserve proper cathechesis.
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