Catholic groups sue to overturn Obama’s contraception mandate
If you thought the Catholic Church and universities affiliated with it would quietly accept the Obama administration’s “compromise” for the contraception mandate, well, think again. From Fox News:
Some of the most influential Catholic institutions in the country filed suit in federal district court Monday against the so-called contraception mandate, in one of the biggest coordinated legal challenges to the rule to date.
Claiming their “fundamental rights hang in the balance,” a total of 43 plaintiffs filed a dozen separate lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the requirement. Among the organizations filing were the University of Notre Dame, the Archdiocese of New York and The Catholic University of America.
The groups are objecting to the requirement from the federal health care overhaul that employers provide access to contraceptive care. The Obama administration several months back softened its position on the mandate, but some religious organizations complained the administration did not go far enough to ensure the rule would not compel them to violate their religious beliefs.
That “softened” position by the administration is nothing but an accounting fiction in which Catholic employers are supposed to pretend that insurance companies will pay for the procedures to which they object from some kind of mystery revenues beyond the employers’ contributions. These are not a bunch of ultra-conservative organizations: Notre Dame had President Obama as its commencement speaker three years ago.
The lawsuits ensure that the church will continue to hammer away at this issue throughout the election season. It is big-time self-inflicted wound for the Obama team.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
217 comments Add your comment
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
May 22nd, 2012
11:19 am
There’s no outcry over pedophilia but Obama is taking away your rights. I strongly second 11:41pm. Let’s be real here.How we allow these robe wearing child molesters, who somehow come off as holy; to participate in any discussion concerning any state of affairs is beyond reason.
The Catholic church sees child molesters as sinners. Not criminals. Thats the problem.
This is the same group that just forgave Galileo a few years ago.
They aren’t the most enlightened bunch.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
May 22nd, 2012
11:24 am
Most Catholics I know don’t follow the teachings of the Church to the letter anyway and they pretty much all think their leadership is far too extreme. They live in the real world where people use condoms.
This is a non issue for Obama.
Richard
May 22nd, 2012
11:25 am
Obama should pass a law that outlaws divorce for Catholics. Let’s see how serious Catholics really are in their convictions.
md
May 22nd, 2012
11:35 am
“This is a non issue for Obama.”
Actually, it’s a big issue for Obama…..it’s kin to talking bad about one’s mother-in-law…..the spouse can bash the family all day long, but the dynamics change rapidly when the other spouse joins in.
There is a big contingent of believers within the democratic and independent ranks, and forcing them to choose is not the best political strategy……
iggy
May 22nd, 2012
11:37 am
interesting reading regarding the kenyan.
http://news.investors.com/article/612225/201205211900/voters-do-not-know-the-real-obama.htm?p=2
Aquagirl
May 22nd, 2012
11:45 am
viagra only allows for the equipment to work, what one does with it after that is where the choice comes in.
If you’re not married, “working it” in any way is a sin. Unless those men are taking Viagra merely to admire the effects, it’s directly facilitating sin.
iggy
May 22nd, 2012
11:47 am
AquaGirl does not understand the “technicals”. This being the case I bet she purchased a butt-load of fb which is taking its daily beating.
Rockerbabe
May 22nd, 2012
11:49 am
the catholic church and its henchmen could easily solve this issue by NOT ACCEPTING GOVERNMENT MONEY and fund their operations with private money.
the catholic church seeks government funds in the form of tuition loans for students, money grants for social services programs and reimbursement for medical services provided to recipients of Medicare and Medicaide. STOP accepting government money and then you will not have to respect the rights of women and others, when they demand equal treatment as provided by our laws and constitution. There is a big different between employment law and religious belief. In any case, the government just needs to STOP giving these bigots taxpayer money.
JDW
May 22nd, 2012
11:56 am
@Tiberius…”Which is better: having religious organizations such as the Catholic Church be able to opt-out of providing coverage for that which they do not agree, or opting out of health care coverage entirely?”
I don’t believe it is an either or choice. It is better for there to be a defined set of medical insurance benefits that are enjoyed by every American. Then additional services can be purchased or provided as employment benefits as desired.
As for the current system, should religious businesses choose to not provide health care benefits over this issue so be it. They will then have to compete for talent on those terms.
td
May 22nd, 2012
11:56 am
Aquagirl
May 22nd, 2012
11:45 am
viagra only allows for the equipment to work, what one does with it after that is where the choice comes in.
If you’re not married, “working it” in any way is a sin. Unless those men are taking Viagra merely to admire the effects, it’s directly facilitating sin.
Where is your evidence that the Catholic churches are paying for this for single men?
Rebar
May 22nd, 2012
12:45 pm
This is pretty simple. The Catholic Church can do whatever it wants, but a Catholic business has to abide by the rules of the workplace. And this has already been decided in court before, and the Catholics lost. All of you screaming about the 1st amendment don’t have a clue. This isn’t forcing a religion to provide this, but a BUSINESS!
Tiberius - Banned from Bookman's and proud of it!
May 22nd, 2012
1:21 pm
“Don’t people have a right to, say, Social Security, which is a benefit, because there is an appropriate law?”
I was waiting for this argument to come forward. Thought it might surface earlier due to it’s elementary nature and lack of logic, but it took 4 pages.
Social Security is a benefit – not a right. It’s benefits continue only so long as the government has money to fund them OR chooses not to fund them.
Just like private health insurance, MarkV.
Another epic fail on your part.
Tiberius - Banned from Bookman's and proud of it!
May 22nd, 2012
1:24 pm
“The Catholic Church can do whatever it wants, but a Catholic business has to abide by the rules of the workplace.”
A private insurance company is no more a Catholic business than I am if I contract to paint their church, Rebar. They are merely a contractor.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Unexpectedly Revised Downward)
May 22nd, 2012
3:50 pm
MarkV
May 22nd, 2012
9:22 am
————————-
Why are Catholic groups suing?
Don Abernethy
May 23rd, 2012
11:50 am
Keep praying that the Supreme Court will kill this thing in July.
Julie Camp
May 23rd, 2012
2:32 pm
I can’t understand why one little request is denied by Obama. Large companies were given waivers to opt out of the health care reform. The Catholics only want a waiver on one thing. I’m Christian and would like to have my contraception covered by my health care, heck, I would like to have just one of my prescriptions covered. But, Catholics should be allowed to have their beliefs, no matter what non Catholics feel. That is the very foundation of this country.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Unexpectedly Revised Downward)
May 23rd, 2012
4:51 pm
Not to put to fine a point on it, Julie, but no one is “allowed” by any one or by the government to have their religious beliefs. As the Constitution states, that right is inalienable and is given to us by our creator. Obozo and the Democrats find the Constitution to be an impediment to their Marxist beliefs, but are about to receive a smackdown courtesy of the Supreme Court.
I cannot wait.