02-10-2012, 07:55 PM
It's not the White House that played games here, though opponents of the President have portrayed it that way. The rule was presented last August, and Catholics and some Republicans didn't like it. The Pope commented on it. And the battle began. I think the compromise makes sense, but I doubt it will change the tone or the rhetoric coming from the Bishops against anyone perceived as liberal on social issues in the White House.
This is a NY times editorial from last fall:
"The Obama administration made the right call in August when it issued new standards requiring all insurers to cover contraceptives without a deductible or a co-payment, starting next year. The White House now needs to resist pressure from House Republicans, the Roman Catholic Church and other groups out to eliminate or significantly weaken the contraceptives mandate.
The new rules already exempt churches and other religious institutions from having to provide contraceptive coverage for their employees. That is similar to provisions in state laws upheld by the highest courts in New York and California.
Nevertheless, church leaders are calling for an expansive exemption for all employees of Catholic hospitals, charitable organizations, elementary and secondary schools, and colleges and universities. That would, in effect, deny coverage for contraceptives for millions of women who may not be Catholic and may disagree with the church’s stance on birth control."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/opinio....html?_r=1
This is a NY times editorial from last fall:
"The Obama administration made the right call in August when it issued new standards requiring all insurers to cover contraceptives without a deductible or a co-payment, starting next year. The White House now needs to resist pressure from House Republicans, the Roman Catholic Church and other groups out to eliminate or significantly weaken the contraceptives mandate.
The new rules already exempt churches and other religious institutions from having to provide contraceptive coverage for their employees. That is similar to provisions in state laws upheld by the highest courts in New York and California.
Nevertheless, church leaders are calling for an expansive exemption for all employees of Catholic hospitals, charitable organizations, elementary and secondary schools, and colleges and universities. That would, in effect, deny coverage for contraceptives for millions of women who may not be Catholic and may disagree with the church’s stance on birth control."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/opinio....html?_r=1