Posted on 01/20/2012 1:59:32 PM PST by NYer
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on today’s announcement from the Obama administration that it is going forward with its original “Obamacare” policy that mandates coverage of sterilization and contraceptive services in most healthcare plans:
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said today that aside from houses of worship, all other religious agencies and organizations will be required to provide sterilization and contraceptive services, including abortifacients, in their employee healthcare plans; none will be allowed to charge co-pays or deductibles. The policy goes into effect in August 2013 for these entities; all others will be required to provide these services in August 2012.
Sebelius explained how her directive applies to non-church religious entities such as Catholic hospitals and universities: “Employers wishing to take advantage of the additional year must certify that they qualify for the delayed implementation. This additional year will allow these organizations more time and flexibility to adapt to this new rule.” She also said, “I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services.”
The language is Orwellian. With stunning magnanimity, Sebelius tells Catholic non-profits that they can take advantage of their one-year reprieve as long as they seek the blessings of the federal government. If they pass muster with the bureaucrats, then they have time to figure out how they can prostitute their religiously ground convictions, or prepare for bankruptcy. To top things off, after shoving the radical secular agenda down the throat of Catholics—and other people of faith who share their concerns—Sebelius congratulates the Obama administration for striking a “balance” between religious liberty and Obamacare. But, of course, no balance was struck: the edict grants nothing to those who believe in religious liberty, and she knows it.
That this dictatorial edict is being announced in an election year indicates both contempt for the First Amendment and plain stupidity.
Ping!
Classify abortion as birth control. There, now abortion is also covered by law by all insurance companies and must be performed in religious affiliated hospitals.
What's that, St. Fancis Hospital. You refuse to comply? Well then we'll just take over your little non-profit institution there.
...”will be required”...
This is the only way they can get what they want, by force of “law”, by “requiring”. Go ahead, morons, draw a line in the sand.
REFUSE.
Just say no. They have no authority to demand that you put aside your religious convictions.
The answer, for ALL Catholic organizations is and must be NO. Without any giving in. PERIOD.
After you sold out your Catholic brothers and sisters for a few sweet slimy blandishments from this administration . . . how does it feel to be used and then thrown aside like an aging hooker?
I'm sure Sister Keenan treasures the signing pen that Obama gave her.
I would ignore it - period. Let them fight it in court and have the lawyers drag it out as best they can, then hopefully Obamacare will be overturned. Obama certainly ignores the law.
The Catholic institutions have no other choice. They must say NO. If they can't make it with federal funds, then they have to get money from private sources or close down.
Agreed. This is the line in the proverbial sand. Now that it has been drawn, there is no other response, both out of necessity AND right.
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