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February 14, 2012 6:30 PM

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Poll: Most back mandating contraception coverage

By: Lucy Madison
Topics: Polling

(Credit: CBS)

Amid continued controversy surrounding an Obama administration policy mandating that women working at religiously-affiliated institutions be provided with free access to contraceptive health care, a new CBS News/New York Times poll shows that most Americans - including Catholics - appear to support the rule.

According to a survey, conducted between Feb. 8-13, 61 percent of Americans support federally-mandated contraception coverage for religiously-affiliated employers; 31 percent oppose such coverage.

The number is similar among self-professed Catholics surveyed: 61 percent said they support the requirement, while 32 percent oppose it.

Majorities of both men and women said they are in favor of the mandate, though support among women is especially pronounced, with 66 percent supporting and 26 percent opposing it. Among men, 55 percent of men are in favor; 38 percent object.

The survey's margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.

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President Obama announced Friday that the government will not force religiously-affiliated institutions such as schools, charities and hospitals to directly provide birth control coverage as part of their employees' health care coverage, in the wake of an uproar from religious leaders over the administration's original language surrounding the regulation.

According to the tweaked rule, employees of religiously-affiliated institutions will have access to no-cost contraceptive coverage through the employee's health insurer, which will be required to offer the coverage for free. Organizations will not be required to refer women to the contraception coverage or subsidize it.

The rule in question has always exempted religious institutions, such as houses of worship, from providing their employees with mandated contraceptive coverage. CUT sentence, seems redundant to above

A number of voices on the right remain dissatisfied with the compromise. Leading U.S. Catholic bishops have vowed to fight the decision with legislative and court challenges; most congressional Republicans object to it as well.

Republicans frame the matter as an issue of religious liberty; Democrats counter that no person is being forced to exert her right to use birth control. Democrats also point out that 99 percent of women, and up to 98 percent of Catholic women, have used birth control at some point in their lives, according to two separate polls by the Guttmacher Institute.

Lucy Madison
Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by focusonjobs1 March 11, 2012 11:49 PM EDT: When the GOP starts trying to stop insurance companies from paying for viagra, I will listen!!!; Reply to this comment

by Pat F. February 29, 2012 5:34 PM EST

I think the term "self-professed Catholic" is vague. There is a difference between someone who was baptized Catholic and doesn't attend Church, and someone who does attend Church. Perhaps the poll should have asked if people were practicing Catholics (but that mightn't give the desired results that the pollsters wanted.) No one is preventing anyone from getting and using birth control. Those who can afford to buy their own might have to consider having fewer manicures. Those who can't afford it could go to Planned Parenthood. Birth control can be obtained without violating rights guaranteed under the Constitution. (It's interesting that some people seek to claim rights that aren't guaranteed in the Constitution, while seeking to trample on those that are because they don't agree with the group involved.)

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by benunhappy March 1, 2012 10:47 AM EST: Add this to your poles , this crap that the faith buisnesses and the gop have developed about contraceptives shows how out of touch they are with americans.I personally know women who are catholics and use contraceptives, not to prevent pregnancy but without this medicine they would have had no chance of living a healthy life and would have died from cancer. This is the straw that will break the gop and catholics back.I refuse to believe that the constitution was instituted to allow faith groups to demand "THIER" beliefs must be followed. What happens when a jahovah witness insists that we as americans should not seek assistance from medical experts because it violates thier beliefs or when the Islam religion demands we respect thier rights and say thats what RELIGOUS LIBERTIES are all about. STOP preventing what the good lord has made: DOCTORS and SCIENTISTS and RESEARCHERS who thru "HIS DIVINE INTERVENTION" have found ways to care for the sick. I hope and pray the church realizes that these demands will TURN members away to seek faiths that want you to BELIEVE that GOD THE ALMIGHTY will be there for ALL HUMANKIND and use GOD'S WISDOM thru MAN and not DISRESPECT WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN THRU THE AGES.THESES RESTRICTIONS are the interpetations of MEN, MEN who continue to discriminate and hold women as second rate citizens,and continue to sexually abuse children and commit crimes against humanity by paying thier abused off and protecting the abusers.MY rights that the constitution protects is the right to NOT have ANY faith BUISNESSES demand any of thier beliefs on to AMERICANS. When OUR CONSTITUTION was written the CHRISTAINS had very little competion, since then faith groups have sprouted up everywhere and act above the law.WITH ALL GOOD COMES EVIL FROM WITHIN and hides all too well in those who profess the so called truth by thier interpetation. The day will come and those who were told they are forgiven will also feel the WRATH including the clergy who abused and those who deny what GOD has provided to those in need!

by monkeyscience February 27, 2012 2:23 PM EST

Ummm... has anyone else noticed that the CBS poll is the only one showing overwhelming support for the Obama administration position? Every other article I've seen (I was searching Yahoo! News for coverage, so I saw quite a few) indicates that Americans are, in fact, closely divided on this matter. I suppose they are citing a different poll, but I find it hard to believe that the figures quoted in other articles (about 45% for each side) could be so wildly different than the CBS poll.

Try looking at the Gallup poll (http://www.gallup.com/poll/152963/Contraception-Debate-Divides-Americans-Including-Women.aspx?utm_source=tagrss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syndication) if you want what seems to be a far more accurate picture of where people really stand.

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by focusonjobs1 March 11, 2012 11:46 PM EDT: The pay for viagra!!!

by cbscbs88778877 February 25, 2012 12:49 AM EST

The issue here should not be distorted. Those of us who object to PAYING for others' contraception are NOT demanding that contraception be made ILLEGAL.
I just bought some bread and milk at the store for "health reasons", and I don't expect other taxpayers or health care plan to pay for it.
Why should ANYBODY be forced to pay for OTHERS' contraception?

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by monkeyscience February 27, 2012 2:26 PM EST: Amen to that. There is a huge difference between telling organizations morally opposed to birth control that they must pay for it, and telling everyone everywhere that they can't have birth control.

Also, why work for an employer that holds vastly different moral views from your own? I imagine the tough job market is one reason, but if having birth control covered by insurance is such a big deal to you, I would look for an employer who provides that.


by Eco99 February 28, 2012 2:23 AM EST: The problem with this is that these organizations except government subsidies and tax advantages. You can't have your cake at eat it too. If you want the money and the advantages you should have to follow the rules or give up the money and tax advantages and do as you please. Then I may disagree with teh practice but just like private clubs it is their perogative to do what the wish.
That issue aside survey show that a vast majority of Catholic women use contraception. The church needs to get with the 21st century. This compromising their beliefs stance holds no water with me after all the evidence of the church looking the other way when priets, etc. molested little children.


by lg144 February 23, 2012 1:52 AM EST: Republicans have proven they only want to hold public office to promote their religious beliefs and to protect big oil, corporations and the wealthy and to hell with everyone else.; Reply to this comment

by dantom39 February 21, 2012 7:41 AM EST

HELLO HELLO CBS notice gas prices up up up up up can you blame Bush some way

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by Eco99 February 28, 2012 2:26 AM EST: Yep a voluntary war in the Middle East that has destabilized the region raising uncertainty and causing speculation on oil futures which results in higher gas prices. In what why can Obama be blamed? And before you play the domestic drilling card, look at US exports of refined petroleum products last year. They were the highest in recent history. Even if we increased domestic production the oil companies will still sell it to the highest bidder which would likely be overseas having little impact on fuel prices at home. The only reason they want to drill here is to save money on trasnporting the crude here so they can make more on the sale.

by NotAGolfer February 19, 2012 8:26 PM EST

You know, food is a necessity. It is required for life. Therefore, Obama should mandate that insurance companies supply free food.

How is mandating the supply of contraceptives different from this? Don't you see how bizzare this is? It isn't about helping the poor, or anyone. It's about control.

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by cbscbs88778877 February 25, 2012 12:52 AM EST: Bingo


by Eco99 February 28, 2012 2:33 AM EST: He is simply saying that it be covered by the insurance he is not saying that the people covered by the insurance needs to take it. Its not about control its about being able to have a choice. If you are all such good christians then don't get it. Isn't that what faith is about resisting temptation.

by magnumdr February 19, 2012 7:55 AM EST

What would be cheaper, giveing out birth control to those who need it or spending our money on unwanted children until they become of age?. I think the answer is very clear!

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by NotAGolfer February 19, 2012 8:30 PM EST: What's this "our money" thing? You spend your money on what you want, and I'll spend mine on what I want. See?

"The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community." - David D. Boaz


by jaykay3141 March 3, 2012 10:36 PM EST: Helloooo ... we ARE spending money on neglected children through illnesses and poor education, criminal justice, and all of the other costs imposed on society.

by johntlofty February 17, 2012 12:42 AM EST

No surprise here. Most Americans understand the difference between religious tolerance & trying to ram your beliefs down other peoples throats.

The organizations that are being asked to include contraception in their insurance plans employ & serve a diverse set of people. Their core functions are not explicitly religious in nature. Making exception for the Catholics means making exceptions for other faiths that will want to get out of providing coverage for other treatments.

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by NotAGolfer February 19, 2012 8:36 PM EST: Instead of all the exceptions, let's just try freedom. You buy the insurance program that works for you, and I'll buy the one that works for me. Right now the government gives a tax break to employers who provide insurance, but they don't give a tax break to individuals to buy health insurance. If we change this, then employers can simply give the huge amounts of money they pay on health insurance to their employees, and the employees can go shopping for their own insurance plans.

To help the poor, let's give them money so THEY can decide what insurance program works for each of them. If all Democrats really wanted was to help the poor, then they'd give them subsidies to buy the education, food, and health insurance of their choice. But what Democrats really want is control. They want to move society around like pawns. Notice how the plans to help the poor always involve mandating health requirements to the entire society. Think about it.

by obwan222 February 15, 2012 2:29 PM EST

doilsss: [Contraceptives are not insurance, neither is "preventive care".]

Birth control is the most fundamental kind of preventive care. It prevents not only unwanted health affects on the woman but it is a very effective way to prevent an abortion.

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by chevyhotrod February 15, 2012 3:14 PM EST: Birth Control Side Effects:

Having a constant feeling of nausea

Morning sickness

Irregular menstrual cycles

Loose bowel and bloating

Mood swings

Palpitation

Depression

Irregular vaginal discharges and increased susceptibility to infections as the changes in hormonal levels affect the endometrial tissue in a deleterious manner.

Tenderness of breasts

Loss of libido

Hypertension and changes in the lipid profiles

Increased fluid retention attributing on some level towards

weight gain

Decreased calcium retention in kidneys leading to bone loss and osteoporosis

Hair and follicular changes are also seen.

Depression

Optical problems like increased susceptibility for cataract

Increased number of gallstones

Cardiac failure and transient ischemic attacks in very rare cases.

Decreased resistance towards seasonal infections.

In females the risk of ectopic pregnancies is exponentially related to the period of usage of hormonal contraceptives.

Increased susceptibility towards endometrial and cervical cancers because of poor nutrition and lack of hormonal balance in endometrial tissues.

Jaundice, clotting and thrombosis on rare circumstances


by johntlofty February 17, 2012 12:21 AM EST: Chevy, your list is for estrogen pills only. You know there are other forms of birth control, right? You know that as a man, you shouldn't be taking estrogen, anyway... right?