Catholic hospitals reject compromise on birth control insurance coverage
CBS
(AP) WASHINGTON - Sharpening an election-year confrontation over religious freedom and government health insurance rules, the nation's Catholic hospitals on Friday rejected President Barack Obama's compromise for providing birth control coverage to their women employees.
The Catholic Health Association was a key ally in Obama's health care overhaul, defying opposition from church bishops to help the president win approval in Congress. But the group said Friday it does not believe church-affiliated employers should have to provide birth control as a free preventive service, as the law now requires.
The hospital group's decision calls into question a compromise offered by the president himself only months ago, under which the cost of providing birth control would be covered by insurance companies and not religious employers. While churches and other places of worship are exempt from the birth control mandate, nonprofits affiliated with a religion, such as hospitals, are not.
In a letter to the federal Health and Human Services department, the hospital group said the compromise initially seemed to be "a good first step" but that examination of the details proved disappointing. The plan would be "unduly cumbersome" to carry out and "unlikely to adequately meet the religious liberty concerns" of all its members, the group said.
While some liberal-leaning religious groups see no problem with the birth control rule, Roman Catholic bishops and conservative-leaning groups are treating it as an affront and calling it an attack on religious freedom. Institutions ranging from the University of Notre Dame to Catholic Charities in several states to the Archdiocese of Washington have sued to block the rule.
With the Catholic Health Association now voicing concerns, opponents gained a powerful endorsement. There was no immediate reaction from the Obama administration.
The association represents about 600 hospitals and hundreds of nursing homes and other health-related organizations, totaling 2,000 members around the country. One of every six patients is cared for in a Catholic hospital.
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In its letter, the group said the government should either broaden the exemption for religious employers, or pay directly for the birth control coverage.
Starting next Jan, 1, in most cases, women will have access to birth control at no additional charge through their job-based coverage, as part of a package of preventive services that also includes HIV screening and support for breast-feeding mothers. Some employers, considered to be "grandfathered" in under the health care law, will not have to provide the coverage.
The requirement applies to all birth control approved by the Food and Drug Administration. That includes the pill, intrauterine devices, the so-called morning-after pill, and newer forms of long-acting implantable hormonal contraceptives that are becoming widely used in the rest of the industrialized world.
The morning-after pill is particularly controversial. It has no effect if a woman is already pregnant, but many religious conservatives consider it tantamount to an abortion drug.
As recently as the 1990s, many health insurance plans didn't cover birth control. Protests, court cases, and new state laws led to dramatic changes. Today, almost all plans cover prescription contraceptives — but usually impose copays.
The White House has struggled to find a solution that will satisfy women's rights advocates without offending people who object on grounds of religious freedom. While Catholic church teaching has long opposed artificial means of birth control, polls show the faithful use the pill nonetheless.
Obama in 2008 won the total Catholic vote, 54 percent to Sen. John McCain's 45 percent, but he lost the white Catholic vote, 52 percent to 47 percent, according to exit polls. Once reliably Democratic, Catholics are now swing voters, with white Catholics making up the majority of the group.
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Imagine going to a pharmacist only to find that the pharmacist will not dispense your medication because it is against their religious beliefs?
Imagine a doctor refusing to treat you or perform a medical procedure because of his religious belief that "there is a season for all things," and that it is simply your time to die?
Sad they have to talk to a priest, when they could easily bypass them as they are just humans, no closer to God, and in fact most times, much further from him.
has posted THE solutionto this entire issue!
"The humble servant"
"............As a Catholic, however, I continue to be mystified by the lack of understanding by the hierarchy of the humble servant mentality of Jesus Christ. Magnificent jeweled pectoral crosses, gold rings, flamboyant tailor-made vestments, and days of celebration and dining out do not seem to fit in with the simplicity and humility of Jesus, the Carpenter who washed the feet of His disciples. Nor does the terms "elevated" or "prince" (as in one being elevated to the status of prince in the Catholic church), describe Jesus, who came to serve and not to be served."
as submitted by Mr. Robert T. Denstedt
I am not Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness or any other 'Bible Thumper'. I "am trying to be" a Christian, but I have a long way to go!!!!!!!!
I agree 100% with Mr Denstedt.. If you are trying to "SHOW" how Christian you 'are'...... Then you aren't,,, Christian..
Do you have more faith in the power of our government than you do your God? If not, drop your suit and pray to Him. If he is the same as God I serve, he has all powers.
The God I serve gives life. He commands death. He heals the sick and gives sight to the blind. He causes mountains to tremble and the earth to shake. He commands the powers of the wind and waters and fire, as well as the lightning that can pierce the blackest night.
He once parted the great Red Sea, caused the heavens to rain for 40 days and 40 nights, and consumed a land of sin called Sodom and Gomorrah with an unquenchable fire. He has all powers.
So, instead of praying to your God, you are choosing to appeal to our court system?
Its like food stamps. Jewish markets are allowed to only sell Kosher food while accepting food stamps. Muslim markets can only sell Halah foods. Vegan markets can sell animal free products only bought in food stamps. Tube tying is not a catholic procedure. People want things both ways. They want others "to follow (their) rules", but they also want the benefits that these institutions may exclusively have. (A self sacrificing affinity for care, and often volunteer services) Non-for-profits Religious based hospitals often give perks. Poor people are getting the benefits of public funds. Nobody owes extra procedures just because the money its drawn from public funds. Just because your poor, doesn't mean your giving a service to the hospital. You are paying a fee for services, a service that they can provide to others if your not around asking for it.