From the Cardinal Newman Society press release:
Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS), today issued an announcement indicating that HHS would ignore the concerns of religious employers regarding HHS rules mandating health insurance coverage for sterilizations and contraception, including some that cause abortion, except to allow religious groups a year to comply with the law.
“It is the greatest irony, that by worshipping the cult of ‘choice’ the Obama Administration has determined that religious organizations lack the freedom to act in fidelity to their beliefs,’” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “The White House has sold the First Amendment for a few pennies of political support from the ACLU and the abortion lobby.”
“If the Obama Administration cannot respect the First Amendment of the Constitution, then we must take this fight to the courts and win,” Reilly continues. “The Cardinal Newman Society will do everything within our power and resources to help faithful Catholic colleges and other organizations in this fight to defend religious liberty. Already a faithful Catholic college has led the charge in federal court, and other Catholic colleges have stood strong with us against the HHS rule, without compromise.”
Over the past few years, The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) has been heavily engaged in promoting and defending the religious liberties of Catholic colleges and universities. Last month CNS opposed a compromise to the HHS rules recommended by the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic Health Association. CNS commissioned a legal analysis of the Obama Administration’s health insurance mandate for sterilization and contraceptives and organized 18 Catholic colleges and universities to join in an appeal to the Department of Health and Human Services against the mandate. CNS has also defended The Catholic University of America’s single-sex dorm policy and published materials to help Catholic colleges and universities protect their religious liberty.Tools for the defense of religious liberty published by CNS this year include a step-by-step plan for Catholic colleges to protect religious freedoms by enhancing Catholic identity; a comprehensive legal backgrounderdescribing assaults from the NLRB; and a handbook for Catholic college leaders helping them conform to the Church’s vision for Catholic higher education.
For an overview of the work of CNS to defend religious liberty, click here.
The Sebelius statement is as follows:
In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive services without charging a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible. The rule allows certain non-profit religious employers that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraceptive services. Today the department is announcing that the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA -approved forms of contraception. Women will not have to forego these services because of expensive co-pays or deductibles, or because an insurance plan doesn’t include contraceptive services. This rule is consistent with the laws in a majority of states which already require contraception coverage in health plans, and includes the exemption in the interim final rule allowing certain religious organizations not to provide contraception coverage. Beginning August 1, 2012, most new and renewed health plans will be required to cover these services without cost sharing for women across the country.
After evaluating comments, we have decided to add an additional element to the final rule. Nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law. 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. We intend to require employers that do not offer coverage of contraceptive services to provide notice to employees, which will also state that contraceptive services are available at sites such as community health centers, public clinics, and hospitals with income-based support. We will continue to work closely with religious groups during this transitional period to discuss their concerns.
Scientists have abundant evidence that birth control has significant health benefits for women and their families, it is documented to significantly reduce health costs, and is the most commonly taken drug in America by young and middle-aged women. This rule will provide women with greater access to contraception by requiring coverage and by prohibiting cost sharing.
This decision was made after very careful consideration, including the important concerns some have raised about religious liberty. I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services. The administration remains fully committed to its partnerships with faith-based organizations, which promote healthy communities and serve the common good. And this final rule will have no impact on the protections that existing conscience laws and regulations give to health care providers.
This news release is also available here.
Adam Wilson
CNS Staff
Matthew Archbold
Charlotte Hays
24 Comments
WOW the HARM one person can accomplish!!!!!
This woman just blows my mind.
One of the saddest things here is: Kathleen Sebelius is a “So Called” practicing Catholic.
The harm she alone does to our Mother Church by her proclaiming she is Catholic. What a spit in the face of our Pope and Catholic Bishops.
I truly believe she needs to be publicly Excommunicated. She is without a moral compass.
Obama did well picking her to further his moral-less agenda. He knew the damage she would cause to our Catholic church and everyone’s religious freedoms.
The Catholic Church, to which Sebelius belongs, has not endorsed her, and in early March 2009, Archbishop Raymond F. Burke prefect for the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s highest court, declared that Sebelius should not approach the altar for Communion in the United States, and he noted that, “after pastoral admonition, she obstinately persists in serious sin.
From Wikipedia
SHE, Kathleen Sebelius, IS A PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A CATHOLIC…
This the reason that this health care has to be Gone After the Election along with the Man in the White house an his ideals which are entirly wrong for Americans as i do not believe he is an american born citizen. I am Praying For a Landslide in this election like the one in 1933.
Kathleen Sebelius should be removed from Office.
She has no understanding or appreciation of people’s religious beliefs. She is typical, unfortunately, of this administration’s postions on religion.
I read the statement of Kathleen Sebelius and I cannot believe what I read! I could believe it if I were in the Soviet Union, but here in the USA????
I agree with Tony…She needs to be publicly excommunicated so that catholics everywhere can see what harm a catholic, in name only, can do to the church!
wheres our CHOICE?
This is a terrible requirement. We Catholics cannot in good conscience support either abortion or contraception. We must pray for an overturning of this requirement, and of Roe v. Wade, and fight any requirement to cover abortion or contraception.
i am not surprised at the action of kathleen sibelius, can you believe that in a survay by US CATHOLIC magazine 51% of catholics are approving of president obamas handling of all important business!! how can we win the fight for moral integrity if ctholics don’t even understand what’s going on!!
This is truly a sad day for the people of the United States of America. The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave no more.
Kathleen Sebelius is positive proof that the Democratic Party is not Democratic at all and Democracy will become a phase of the past.
How many Americans sacrificed themselves and even gave their lives to defend Democracy and protect those being persecuted or worse, victims of genocide? Were these sacrifices in vain?
We need to pray for Kathleen Sebelius as it is evident that she is on a very steep slippery slope. She uses the term Catholic as a label the foundation has failed and the roots withered.
Sorry about my error. Kathleen Sibelius was the daughter of Ohio Governor Gilligan of Ohio not Governor Celeste. Gov. Celeste’s wife became an ordained bishop, illicitly of course.
No doubt it’s a very unfortunate decision. Most Catholic institutions will not be exempted from this mandate and will have to make a decision to either close down or compromise their moral standards based on the teachings of the Church.
In the meantime it is imperative that the court system be allowed to weigh in on this decision as soon as possible before the one-year compliance window expires. Better yet, we need a change of US Administration that will rescind the mandate and put it to rest along with Obamacare.
It is once again evident that this administration like most Americans could care less about anything spiritual and only want to feel good now. Isn’t it a shame we of faith are made to be the villains in society rather than the strong.
Voting Republican this time. What a disappointing, sorry Administration.
The gates of hell will be held open with Sebelius on one side and Obama on the other!
Please, please, please pray that our Lord guides this nation and overturns this culture of death. Also, please pray for all marchers at the March for Life in Washington, DC on Monday.
The best way to stop a drug pusher is to not buy his drugs. We are up against the biggest battle of our time. Abortion will stop if women don’t buy it. It’s in the woman’s hands to stop the culture of death and bring back the culture of life. We who don’t believe in abortion must support the woman. ENDOW, (educating on the nature and dignity of women) is a good program to endorse in our parishes. Go to the website http://www.endowonline.com.
People like Pres Obama and Sebelius know exactly what they are doing. The more you can do to eliminate Christianity and our Judeo-Christian tenets that underpin America, the easier it will be to “fundamentally transform” America into a secular Marxist/socialist state. The State must replace God as the source of our being if they are to succeed.
I’d Like to have the “significant health benefits” of contraceptives to women outlined, as well as the documented health cost savings.
I know the adverse consequences: Abortion, marital break-ups, infidelity, lack of respect for women, lack of respect for marriage, increased risk of breast cancer, increased risk of venous thrombosis, just to name a few.
And since when is suppression of a normal body function- a woman’s fertility, considered a preventive service?
I’m with Mr Burdick, the only way to remedy this is to get Obama out of office and along with him, so many of those anti-life Democrats in congress. Then, we can get rid of Obamacare.
Oh, I forgot, when we vote Obama out of office, we can get rid of Obamacare,the HHS mandate, AND KATHLEEN SEBELIUS.
Vote Obama out and the whole cast of players will go = answered prayer. No problem
I am sorry that I voted for him. Never again.
Vote for the outstanding upright RICK SANTORUM who will bring America once again to the great nation that it was. Rick is a powerful unrelenting CATHOLIC who says what he believes, and that is the Divine teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Until America acknowledges that His teachings are the only teachings that will save humanity. Vote for RICK, people of America and your lives will change and you will have peace in your hearts.