White House responds to Cardinal Dolan, says Obama's health care policy "respects religious liberty"

(CBS News) The White House responded on Tuesday to accusations by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan that the Obama administration was "handcuffing" the Catholic church and religious institutions with its policies on health care coverage for contraception.

Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and one of the nation's most prominent Catholic leaders, said on "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday that the administration's compromise on the issue announced earlier this year is not sufficient because the exemptions made for churches are too restrictive.

On Monday, more than 40 Catholic organizations sued the Obama administration over a requirement that most employers provide birth control coverage as part of their employee health plans.

"They tell us if you're really going be considered a church, if you're going to be really exempt from these demands of the government, well, you have to propagate your Catholic faith and everything you do, you can serve only Catholics and employ only Catholics," Dolan said. "We're like, wait a minute, when did the government get in the business of defining for us the extent of our ministry."

When asked about Dolan's comments, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama's health care policy "respects religious liberty" and ensures women have access to "important preventative services, including contraception."

Though Carney would not directly comment on the merit of the suit, he said Mr. Obama is aware of the "important role" religious institutions play in society.

"They can provide services that can be more helpful than any government program," Carney told CBS News chief White House correspondent Norah O'Donnell in Tuesday's White House press briefing.

Carney also noted that the Obama administration has "worked closely" with communities of faith, including officials from Notre Dame on health care issues, and will continue to as policies are implemented.

[kevcl6750]

Glad to see CBS do a decent presentation of the facts on mainstream media! I gather from most of the comments here that most of the people commenting still do not get it ! Has nothing , I repeat. nothing to do with contraception ! If the government can force a religious organization to pay for something, anything that goes against a core tenet or belief the US as we know it is over ! During the draft for Vietnam there were exemptions made for conscientious objectors. This issue is exactly the same ! The constitution and laws are very clear on this issue. "The Amateur" has managed to step in it again ! From a political angle it makes absolutely no sense. Contraceptives are freely available, relatively cheap, and available for free at Planned parenthood. The fact that Obama chose this battle just demonstrates his ineptitude once again.

[MIcheleSomerville]

Read "The Bishops v Obama: Stumping for Mitt" http://*******.com/34nz4zn

[raboz]

"handcuffing" the Catholic church, that seems like a pretty good idea. If we handcuffed more of their pedophiles there would be a lot fewer molestations. Too bad they can't find away to clean their own house. Just shuffle them from one parish to another.

[margroks]

The Catholic Church is an appalling example of a religious organization which wants to control everyone, even workers who do not subscribe to their narrow sexist views on sex and religion. If they want to get into politics so badly then cancel their status as non-profits and let them pay up like the rest of us.

[cchristopher2]

It seems to me that once again, an organization ruled by men are making rules concerning women. Somehow that doesn't seem like the Christian way.

[TimeToEvolve]

The Catholic Church has lost all credibility and is still stuck back in the 13th century. 'Nuff said.

[alanrobisch]

What I find fascinating about the Obama administration is that it claims to know what the catholic church should feel about its actions. If the church feels its being jobbed its being jobbed no amount of spin will change that. It is also interesting that the obama adm is being sued by 43 separate entites for its actions in this matter. Its estimated it may cost hundreds of millions to defend the case which may fail and leave the taxpayers even more in debt and the result the catholic church wanted. Obama is an Ideological hardhead and fool

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

You could say the same about the 43 separate entities, IDEOLOGICAL HARDHEAD AND FOOLS since I know a lot of Catholics that practice birth control, both with pills and condoms.

[dj_chi]

I find it ridiculous that the Church objects to paying for birth control, when many already do without question where state regulations require it. And I find it ridiculous that the church doesn't object to paying for male sex-promoting drugs like Viagra, but they have a big problem with female sex-promoting drugs like birth control. If sex for pleasure is a sin (as the Church says), then both should be against the Church's morals. Yet only the one directly involving women gets lawsuits flying. Discrimination.

[TimeToEvolve]

I bet mortar does not have car insurance because he is forced to pay for it. I bet he does not pay sales tax, property tax or income tax either since he is forced to pay.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Is anyone else experiencing a very slow reload when trying to view posts? Sometimes posts seem to disappear then reappear only to disappear again!! This can go on and on and then reloading takes like FOREVER1

[stormerF69]

When you keep loading garbage they just don't know what to do with it.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

StormerF69 they must have missed your posts.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

YEP, you can trust the church:

"A priest who assisted Monsignor William Lynn investigate clergy sex abuse claims testified Tuesday that it was not the archdiocese's policy to contact law enforcement or other victims of abuse.
"Our legal counsel said there was not a requirement to report," Monsignor Michael McCulken told jurors.
The defense called its first three witnesses Tuesday in the child sexual abuse and conspiracy trial of two Philadelphia priests, after the prosecution rested last week.
On trial are the Rev. James Brennan, who is accused of the attempted rape of a 14-year-old, and Monsignor William Lynn, who is accused of knowingly allowing dangerous priests to continue in the ministry in roles in which they had access to children."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/22/us/pennsylvania-priests-abuse/index.html?hpt=us_c2

[stormerF69]

So your saying to trust Politicans? You really have drank the koolaid. 4 governers of illinois removed for corruption and 2 still in jail, Rangel forgot he had 250,000.00 in an acount he did not pay taxes on,Van Jones,Timothy Geithner,Tom Daschle,want to go on and on and on with corrupt politicans.

[dj_chi]

Did he say that, Stormer? Looks like you're reading in arguments he didn't make.

[DocLorusso]

Given the history of the Catholic church this is lame.