Report: Chicago cardinal joins contraceptives fight

In this handout photo provided by DePaul University, Cardinal Francis George addresses the DePaul University symposium on April 21, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.

/ Getty

The head of the Catholic church in the Chicago area has penned a letter, reportedly to be read out during church services this weekend, telling millions of American Catholics that church-affiliated employers "will not" comply with an Obama administration law requiring them to provide contraception as part of their health care plans for employees.

According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, Cardinal Francis George is getting directly involved in the political debate which has snowballed during the past week over the new rule, slamming the Obama administration for what Catholic leaders, many Republican lawmakers, and some of their Democratic colleagues say is a step too far in limiting religious freedoms.

"We cannot -- and will not -- comply with this unjust law," George says in the letter. "People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens because of their religious beliefs."

The Chicago Archdiocese's serves 2.3 million Roman Catholics, according to the Sun-Times report.

CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli reports two senators - a Democrat and a Republican - introduced legislation on Thursday designed to completely reverse the Obama administration's requirement on religious-affiliated employers to offer contraceptives.

The Obama administration announced last month that while churches and other explicitly religious organizations will be exempt from the requirements, religiously-affiliated organizations will not be, and that has led to the current outcry over the health care regulations.

On "CBS This Morning" Thursday, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, said he hoped the "massive negative reaction to this ruling" will prompt the Obama administration to reverse course and broaden the exemption. The Republican presidential candidates, meanwhile, have harshly attacked the administration over the issue on the campaign trail.

[PourpaixPourpaix]

There is no such thing as religious-sponsored health care. Just like anyone else who invests in a business, the investors must comply with the rules and regulations applied to the business, or get out of the business. The idiotic catholic church has NO place in my life, and forcing their customs and ethics upon me curtails my religious freedom.

In my town, the stupid church sponsored the hospital, charging outrageous prices while delivering the worst care in the nation. It's too far to the next town when you need a hospital. With their riches, they've started buying all the doctor practices. Recently, they bought my cardiologist and immediately tripled the prices. $1500 for a simple ultrasound. And now I must comply with the catholic church's mandates. If I'm made into a vegetable by car crash or stroke, my living will shall be ignored, and they will take every step necessary to preserve my life against my will, then submit a bill to my heirs. There's a certain common medical condition I would like them to find themselves with (now ain't that polite).

[Fletcha7]

>>>Mortarman291SG: They are trying to keep government mandates off their members.<<<

Won't be long until the good padre condemns current government mandates regarding mandatory auto insurance.

[diamruby]

Okay so now I understand why they only target boys for their sex abuse, no babies???? Most of the men are gay, the monks are mentally insane & the nuns have had babies & are having more sex than most married people. Oh I forgot they are married to an invisible person out of a fairy tale book, thats why they can't get married to real live humans. So we have these religious nuts that want no birth control so that we can have more abused, starving & unwanted children in the world, like India, Africa & all other nations whose populations are out of control. The problem with wanting people to not have sex unless they are wanting children (per the Catholic teachings) is that sex is the only form of fun that these poverty nations have & alot of children are the product of rape from the military men etc. Now why would any person in their right mind wish this on an innocent child or woman??? The only reason these cults do not want birth control is because they might not rake in as many billions as they need to support they rich lifestyle. These religious cult organizations need to start paying taxes on their billions of dollars that they are using to corrupt our government & the governments in other countries. Of course these cults are ran by men. Many men wrote the book called the Bible, for men only.

[tryhonesty]

This nonsense is simple RepubliCON diversion from the real economic issues that need action from the Greedy OLD Party of No. The Catholics and any other religion with political action committees need to have their exempt tax status eliminated. Now. Stick to religion or pay back taxes. Period.

[stupa5]

by Mortarman291SG February 10, 2012 11:35 AM EST
You dont get it.

He gets it Mortaman your the cluless one!

[pjsnake]

You are clueless. This has nothing to do with contaception. This is about religious freedom. Why don't you think before you speak it may help.

[enlightenu]

catholics prefer birth-out-of-control

[Fletcha7]

Nobody gets pregnant when a priest molests an alter boy.

[wfw3536]

Obama is caving just like he did on campign super packs. How sad, no backbone.

[Fletcha7]

Once again, in an effort to please everyone, the president pleases no one.

[Zann-Zel]

CBS - where's the story about the large group of Nuns that want this law to stand? Who CARES what a male Cardinal thinks? This is about WOMEN'S healthcare!

[kcits]

@Zann-Zel
No, it isnt about Womens health care. No one is saying Women cant have these things. What is said is that the church should not be forced to pay for them.

[notyrants]

The catholic church has become a highly politically partisan right wing machine. I grew up in this den of hypocrisy and have had my first hand experience. It is NOT a just church. It is a corporate registered special interest that purports to have the patent on Jesus that only it's authorized dealers in gilded gowns may legitimately sell after being tailored to fit their needs. It is written that Jesus said, where two are three of you are gathered in my name, I am in your midst. These political hacks who during the years of the Bush administration's private non-democratic corporate government oil campaign in the middle where millions were slaughtered had no screaming edict such as this recent one.

Since the church is in the business of healthcare and meddles in the politics of caesar, it should pay taxes as all citizens do. After all, corporations are people and people pay taxes.

[kcits]

@notyrants
The church is not involved in politics. That it helps others with medical care is a Christian act. Havent you ever read the "Good Samaritan" parable in the Bible?

[inketolstoy]

Like GE?

[merlgrey]

RulesofEngagement February 10, 2012 10:11 AM EST
"Those Priest will only approve birth control if alter boys can get pregnant"


hah. so true. for the catholic church this isnt about health care or religion, its about grandstanding piously for a few minutes trying to wash over countless years of being a pedophile factory.

[vielmann]

I wonder if an investigation would reveal some deep dark secrets about these religious leaders?