Obama Compromise on Contraception: Catholic Bishops Dissatisfied - East Idaho News
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Obama Compromise on Contraception: Catholic Bishops Dissatisfied

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Getty 020713 StPatricksCathedralNYC?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1360273125413Kevin Forest/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says it is not satisfied with the Obama administration’s proposed compromise to ease requirements for religiously-affiliated institutions to provide insurance that covers birth control.

“Health care for all does not mean freedom for few,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Thursday.

Last Friday, the administration proposed allowing religiously-affiliated institutions to opt out of the requirement under the health care law that they provide insurance that covers contraception, in an attempt to address the moral objections of some groups.

“Throughout the past year, we have been assured by the administration that we will not have to refer, pay for, or negotiate for the mandated coverage,” Dolan said. “We remain eager for the administration to fulfill that pledge and to find acceptable solutions — we will affirm any genuine progress that is made, and we will redouble our efforts to overcome obstacles or setbacks.”

The proposed work-around would allow religious groups that oppose providing health insurance that covers birth control to work with a “third-party administrator” that would give women access to contraceptive coverage at no additional cost.

The compromise was put forth after religious groups and private employers filed dozens of lawsuits against the administration saying the provision requiring employers to cover birth control violated their religious beliefs.

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