Hicksville, N.Y. — Obama administration regulations requiring Church institutions to pay for employee contraceptive coverage represent “an unwarranted, unprecedented intrusion” into the ministry of the Church, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York stated during an address in Hicksville, New York.
Cardinal Dolan, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, addressed the threat posed by the federal contraception mandate during a conference on Catholic public policy March 3.
Speaking at Holy Trinity High School, based in the Rockville Centre Diocese, the cardinal made a point of rebutting media reports that he was coming to speak about the controversial new federal rule requiring virtually all private employers — including religious institutions — to provide co-pay-free contraception services in their health plans. Still, in the context of Catholics making an impact on public policy, he had much to say about the issue. The cardinal and Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre afterwards also spoke to reporters, all of whom asked about the HHS controversy.
When the Obama administration announced the contraception mandate last August, the U.S. bishops attacked the narrow religious exemption that excluded most church-affiliated social agencies, hospitals and universities. During his appearance at the Hicksville conference, Cardinal Dolan noted that the First Amendment protects “freedom of religion” to practice one’s faith without interference from the government, not merely “freedom of worship.” In theory, he said, “there is freedom of worship in China,” where believers can go to church but cannot practice their faith the rest of the week.
Accusations that the Church is trying to impose peculiar Catholic teachings are “baloney,” said Cardinal Dolan. “You could say that if we were trying to pass a law that would make it illegal to sell hot dogs on Fridays during Lent,” but not on the positions that the Church has taken. “Catholics ought to propose, not impose,” he said, making the case in terms of natural law for the good of society.
Rather than trying to impose its morality, the Church is saying: “Don’t impose your morality on us,” the cardinal said, drawing applause from the audience.
Possible Compromise?
President Obama’s proposed modification of the mandate, said the cardinal would not exempt religious employers that objected to contraception, but would merely pass the burden and cost of covering contraceptives to the insurer.
“This really didn’t accomplish much,” Cardinal Dolan said, because it still philosophically defined that church ministry constituted practice of religion and also because among Catholic institutions in New York “most of us are self-insured.” Consequently, passing the cost to the insurer would still be burdening the Church.
Asked about the U.S. Senate’s 51-48 vote March 1 to table the bipartisan Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, the cardinal said “We were a little disappointed but not surprised.” Sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., the measure sought to protect employer conscience rights. The cardinal added that the bishops are hopeful that the Senate might revisit the issue and the House of Representatives will pass a similar measure.
In response to a question from a reporter, Cardinal Dolan acknowledged that the bishops are looking into legal action. He said the conference would accept assistance offered by constitutional scholars, legal experts and others concerned about religious freedom.
Asked about the possibility of compromise, Cardinal Dolan noted that “you can’t compromise on principle,” though compromise on policy is permitted.
The compromise would be for the Obama administration to broaden its religious exemption to allow church institutions and individuals to practice their religion, but keep the mandate for everyone else, the cardinal said. “The Church would still oppose the mandate of contraceptive coverage, but the concern would be “less urgent.”
When asked about the suggestion that the bishops listen to “more liberal” Church members who either don’t oppose contraception or don’t believe in defying the HHS regulations, he said that the key issue is not the opinions of the Catholic people, but what the Church teaches and whether the Church will be compelled to act against its own teaching.
He encouraged Catholics
to take action too: “It is a freedom of religion battle. It is not about contraception. It is not about women’s health. We’re talking about an unwarranted, unprecedented, radical intrusion” on “a church’s ability to teach, serve and sanctify on its own.”
“We got our Irish up a little when leaders in government seemed to be assigning an authoritative voice to Catholic groups that are not the bishops,” Cardinal Dolan said. “If you want an authoritative voice, go to the bishops.”
Register correspondent Pete Sheehan writes from Rockville Centre, New York.
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Cardinal Dolan is absolutely right that there needs to be an exemption for self-insuring religious organizations, such as the Archdiocese of Washington. I’m not so sure he’s right that a Catholic who owns a butcher shop (an example I read somewhere) should get the exemption, since owning a butcher shop isn’t an “exercise of religion,” which is specifically what the 1st Amendment protects. I’m praying and believing that the Obama administration will see the light and broaden the exception to include self-insuring religious organizations.
The government is shoving contraception down thevthroat of the Church.
I would like to thank President Obama and his administration for doing more to unite people of faith than anyone else in my life time.
Pray for our Bishops, our Church, our Brothers and Sisters, and for our country.
“It is a freedom of religion battle. It is not about contraception. It is not about women’s health. We’re talking about an unwarranted, unprecedented, radical intrusion” on “a church’s ability to teach, serve and sanctify on its own.”
The statement above from Cardinal Dolan, I disagree with. Although, freedom of religion is the battle cry, freedom to do what we want with our sexuality has been the cry for the past 50 years and the Church has avoided this issue. Contraception is what it’s all about. Until our Bishops get serious on addressing this issue and educating their parishioners it will not go away. The Bishops pride themselves in saying they are a direct line of the apostles. Well, the apostles went out to proclaim the good news and Jesus even told the apostles they would be dragged into court and before rulers and kings and it was their opportunity to tell the good news. The world is knocking on the Catholic Churches door and it’s time to tell the good news.
There was an editorial in the Indy Star yesterday from a Rabbi. When was the last time you saw an editorial from a Pastor or Bishop? Anyway, she compared the Catholic Church and birth control to Christian Scientist who doesn’t believe in doctors but has to provide healthcare to employees if they run a secular business. She also said Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions and yet must provide in their healthcare. Our leaders need to explain their view of birth control and how it’s not healthcare. Instead we view it as something that is unhealthy for women psycially, spiritually and within relationship. Physically because the CDC lists an ingredient as a carcinogen and could have adverse long term affects and with so many women using it our water is being affected. It’s unhealthy for women spiritually, because she no longer feels the need to trust in God even though the birth control pill still results in pregnancy because it might be 98% effective the women who takes it might not always take it correctly. It’s also unhealthy spiritually because birth control thins the uterus so conception might have taken place but the ability for inception has been reduced causing an abortion! It’s unhealthy for women’s relationships, even in marriage, because we are more apt to be viewed as objects and be used. Without birth control men are much more apt to respect and restrain themselves realizing the consequences of their actions.
I’m sure there are many who can write and speak eloquently on this and should do so in the public square. We limit ourselves to Catholic magazines and newspapers or a ‘postive’ parish program. Instead, the world is asking why and we must go out and tell the good news. Not avoid it as usual! The world won’t understand religious liberty unless they understand that birth control has in many ways been devastating to our society not helped it. My editorial is mere opinion but a priest or bishops is authority. Stop avoiding one of your duties you were annointed for and that is to teach!
Dolan says he hasn’t asked for this fight but he has because the USCCB asked for universal healthcare. I remember bishops from the USCCB meeting with Nancy Pelosi begging for universal healthcare and was appalled to see them asking for abortion ‘neutral’ language. It was Catholic Health Association that was credited with smoothing the way to get Obamacare passed. Our leaders have stayed silent on religious liberty and freedom of conscience rights the past 3 1/2 years. When Obama reversed the Mexico city policy which made my tax dollars fund abortions around the world, they were silent. When Obama repealed DOn’t Ask Don’t Tell, which eventually led to our military chaplains freedom of conscience, they were silent. When Obama decided not to defend DOMA, they were silent. They can’t be politicians any longer collecting their gov’t money and business grants, but must answer the call of God and proclaim the good news in public!
“It is a freedom of religion battle. It is not about contraception. It is not about women’s health. We’re talking about an unwarranted, unprecedented, radical intrusion” on “a church’s ability to teach, serve and sanctify on its own.”
The statement above from Cardinal Dolan, I disagree with. Although, freedom of religion is the battle cry, freedom to do what we want with our sexuality has been the cry for the past 50 years and the Church has avoided this issue. Contraception is what it’s all about. Until our Bishops get serious on addressing this issue and educating their parishioners it will not go away. The Bishops pride themselves in saying they are a direct line of the apostles. Well, the apostles went out to proclaim the good news and Jesus even told the apostles they would be dragged into court and before rulers and kings and it was their opportunity to tell the good news. The world is knocking on the Catholic Churches door and it’s time to tell the good news.
There was an editorial in the Indy Star yesterday from a Rabbi. When was the last time you saw an editorial from a Pastor or Bishop? Anyway, she compared the Catholic Church and birth control to Christian Scientist who doesn’t believe in doctors but has to provide healthcare to employees if they run a secular business. She also said Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions and yet must provide in their healthcare. Our leaders need to explain their view of birth control and how it’s not healthcare. Instead we view it as something that is unhealthy for women psycially, spiritually and within relationship. Physically because the CDC lists an ingredient as a carcinogen and could have adverse long term affects and with so many women using it our water is being affected. It’s unhealthy for women spiritually, because she no longer feels the need to trust in God even though the birth control pill still results in pregnancy because it might be 98% effective the women who takes it might not always take it correctly. It’s also unhealthy spiritually because birth control thins the uterus so conception might have taken place but the ability for inception has been reduced causing an abortion! It’s unhealthy for women’s relationships, even in marriage, because we are more apt to be viewed as objects and be used. Without birth control men are much more apt to respect and restrain themselves realizing the consequences of their actions.
I’m sure there are many who can write and speak eloquently on this and should do so in the public square. We limit ourselves to Catholic magazines and newspapers or a ‘postive’ parish program. Instead, the world is asking why and we must go out and tell the good news. Not avoid it as usual! The world won’t understand religious liberty unless they understand that birth control has in many ways been devastating to our society not helped it. My editorial is mere opinion but a priest or bishops is authority. Stop avoiding one of your duties you were annointed for and that is to teach!
Please take the time to see this problem for what it is. This is a first step in an assault against freedom of religion.
According to Glen Beck, the second step has already been taken.
The meeting with our Catholic bishops and persons in the White House concluded with the bishops being told they are incapable of hiring the proper people to work for the church and the White House would be better able to do that.
I think that the Faith based organizations and any individual that pays their own premiums should be free to decide according to faith and conscience about paying for such coverage as contraception. I also say if they want to force contraception and sterilization down our throats we should counter with a requirement that all insurance cover Natural Family Planning and NaProTechnology techniques for women’s health.
Hello Cardinal Dolan! I love you, the Church loves you, and The Holy Spirit LOVES YOU!!! You speak for all Catholics, brother! We got your back. (Anyone who disagrees with you, disagrees with the Church, disagrees with The Holy Spirit, and disagrees with God! I feel sorry for them; maybe for them it would be better if they were never born - as Jesus once said.)
Chris W: You have no Catholic credentials.
As a Protestant, I thank the Catholic Bishops for leading this fight for the First Amendment and more importantly for Christianity. Truly, the church is under attack. Whether it is the administration trying to determine who we can be employed as a teacher (see Hosanna-Tabor vs EEOC) or determining what constitutes a “religious institution” such as the present case. It is fundamentally a deception from the father of deception.
Since HHS grants exemptions to Christian Science, Muslims, Amish and American Indians, it seems that the present proposal is specifically targeted at Christians! I suppose we should expect this attack - perhaps, even welcome it (if it is a precursor of Lord’s return). But I suspect that it is our duty to resist compromising with evil for the sake of that which is perishable.
I would like a Catholic church representative to outline in simple terms:
1. Wnat the Church’s fundamental objection to the Mandate is and then give examples of how this mandate can affect the individual. I think people need concrete examples of 1) how the mandate affects our religious freedom and what will be the effect of it on institutions run by the Catholic church, e.g. Catholic schools, Catholic hospitals and nursing homes.
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