Urge re-opening of final rule defining mandate, exemption

The following excerpts come from May 15 news release on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The bishops’ comments on the Health and Human Services Department “accommodation” outlined six points:

First, the [HHS “accomodation”] does not change the fact that contraceptive services are included in the list of mandated preventive services. This has remained unchanged from an earlier regulation announced in August 2011.

Second, the [“accomodation”] does not change the administration’s criteria for defining “religious employers” exempted from the mandate, an exemption that USCCB calls “unprecedented in federal law, improperly narrow, and unlawful.” These criteria include that employers primarily hire and serve only members of their own religion. 

Third, many stakeholders in the health insurance process—religious and secular insurers, religious and secular for-profit employers, individual policy-holders, and others—with a conscientious objection to the mandate are completely ineligible for the exemption. The [“accomodation”] does not acknowledge or address this problem, and as a result, those stakeholders “will be required in the next few months either to drop out of the health insurance marketplace, potentially triggering crippling penalties, or to provide coverage that violates their deeply-held convictions.”

Fourth, while the administration has invited public comment on some further “accommodation” for certain non-exempt religious organizations, secular stakeholders will receive no such accommodation. “We believe that the contraceptive mandate violates the religious and conscience rights of these stakeholders as well and is unlawful.”

Fifth, regardless of the definition of “religious organization,” the central problem remains, that “conscientiously-objecting non-exempt religious organizations will still be required to provide plans that serve as a conduit for contraceptives and sterilization procedures to their own employees, and their premiums will help pay for those items.” The administration has invited comment on different approaches for how to deal with a self-insured employer, but “none of them will solve the problems that the mandate creates for non-exempt religious organizations with a conscientious objection to contraceptive coverage.”

Sixth, the [“accomodation”] raises new questions such as whether employers must be independently exempt for their employees to participate in an exempt plan, whether religious objection to some, but not all, contraceptives should be accommodated and whether a past practice of mistakenly or unknowingly covering contraceptives should disqualify one from accommodation.

“In each case, we urge resolution of these questions in favor of more, not less, religious freedom,” [the bishops’ general counsel Anthony] Picarello and [associate general counsel Michael] Moses wrote.

The full text of the comments is available Here.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 5:57 AM By JMJ
We need to stop all of ‘Obamacare’ and OBAMANISM, NOW!! Not just a few tidbits that will sneak back and bite us where far too many politicians think. Got to be nice here. +JMJ+

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:25 AM By MacDonald
Can you imagine the government forcing a Muslim school to allow girls to attend class wearing halter tops? Or forcing a Jewish school to serve pork? Or making a Mormon school offer liquor? And yet we Catholics are being asked to offer things that are against our faith.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:00 AM By Sally
We must actively support our Bishops in this HHS matter. Sebelius is a heretic and schismatic. CCC # 2089. When is Cardinal Weurl going to tell Georgetown they may not honor HERETICS and SCISMATICS.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:27 AM By Mary Moran
Please consider participating in the nationwide “Fortnight for Freedom” June 21-July 4. 14 days of fasting and praying for the HHS Mandate to be eliminated. Here in San Diego we will have a prayer gathering on Wed. June 20, Bishop Flores and Pastor Jim Garlow presiding. More info coming soon.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:26 AM By Don Guillermo
Now that Mr. Obama has floated the idea of replacing freedom of religion with the lesser “freedom of worship,” Cardinal Dolan must counter by floating the idea of a justified insurrection, as outlined in paragraph 2243 of the Catechism.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:01 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Pray for most of our bishops who have compromised their very souls and the souls of those foolish enough to follow them! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:08 AM By MD
I was reflecting on the HHS mandate this morning when reading the article about the Franciscan University and how different organizations are getting ready for the consequences of not complying with Obamacare. I was thinking that when all businesses are required to insure part-time workers how unemployment is going to go through roof as small business will not have the means survive given such expenses. This shows the Marxist ideology behind this health care bill. It is a blatant attack on the Church through the HHS mandate as I see it as a way to try to squash the Church from existence in this country. I sure hope I am wrong. God Love You.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:26 AM By Elizabeth
Please everyone pray to the Holy Spirit that ‘Obamacare” will be found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court !!! Then case is closed :)

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 1:06 PM By max
May 17, 2012 9:01 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher “Pray for most of our bishops who have compromised their very souls and the souls of those foolish enough to follow them! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher” — KEN, you sound a little nutty here again. how in the heck are YOU to pronounce that “most” of our bishops have compromised their souls? get real. and this coming from a guy who attendss an INDEPENDENT ‘catholic’ parish that has broken away from Rome and is doiing its own thing…just like king henry VIII…and martin luther…

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:13 PM By Catherine
Kenneth Fisher, You are correct and you are repeating the words of Our Lady of Akita, when she said that many shepherds would be compromised. It is apparent that many shepherds are silent because they are compromised. Please remind max, the defender of honoring Harvery Milk Street, that it is our local bishop who has broken away from Rome when he sent out memos to his diocesan priests showing support for homosexual domestic partnerships. That is what you call “doing your own thing”! max certainly does not seem to be bothered much with that type of compromise.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:42 PM By Catherine
MD, Thank you for your very fine post! You are not wrong in your thoughts. The good news is God always wins. Of course this does not mean that there will not be an ongoing battle for the soul of America. Jesus, I place my trust in you and in the end My Immaculate Heart Will Triumph!

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 3:56 PM By Mark from PA
Mr Fisher, what an ego you have. If bishops don’t agree with your opinions then they have compromised their souls?!! Are you saying that people should follow you instead of their bishops?

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 4:13 PM By JLS
I wonder, Don Guillermo, if CCC 2243 backing of justified insurrection could be backed by or aligned with various organizations such as the NRA.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 4:17 PM By JLS
max, have you ever heard of A. common sense, B. eyes to see with and ears to hear with, C. unity with God through the Holy Eucharist (which, btw, is valid at Kenneth’s allegedly independent parish), D. the fact that administrative authority does not dominate over religious authority … ie, God speaks through whom He chooses? Check your Catholic documents, max, instead of your bar tab.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 5:56 PM By Pilar
I agree with Kenneth M. Fisher with the use of “most”. If most of our bishops are in strict adherance to the traditional teachings of the Church, they will enforce what Vatican II intended and not take it out of context and implement the way they wanted it. It is the liberal ideas that is causing this confusion. Again, if most of the bishops are on the conservative side, they will implement in their dioceses a call for prayer, fasting, adoration, devotion to the Blessed Mother. These has worked before and if done today, it will work again.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:10 PM By Mark from PA
Catherine, you state “our local bishop has broken away from Rome.” He has surely done no such thing. You are not the person to judge this. If your bishop was not seen fit by Rome, he would not be your bishop. It appears that you have a bishop who is not prejudiced against homosexual persons and you don’t like that. Your bishop is the bishop of all Catholics in your diocese, not just the ones that you approve of.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:17 PM By JimAroo
Here is my fear: If Obama gave into the Bishops on this issue…the price would be an all out endorsement by the Bishops of Obamacare and his other socialist plans. You see Cardinal Dolan has said that with the exception of the mandate and payment for abortions, the Obamacare health bill is exactly what the Bishops have been working to achieve for years. Obama caves in,,, the Bishops rejoice and all the Catholics vote for whom they really want…Obama.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:28 PM By Clinton
I have to agree with Mr. Fisher. Many bishops sadly, have chosen to try to please the world instead of serving God.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:50 PM By JLS
JimAroo, the salvation of the bishops is not going to be by any political influence but by becoming holy. The Pope told the bishops to become holy. There is no other way to solve the issues. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all else shall be added thereunto” (Jesus).

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 7:39 AM By Catherine
“It appears that you have a bishop who is not prejudiced against homosexual persons and you do like that.” Mark, I see that you are also now openly giving your own heretical endorsement of support for a very bad bishop who is well known throughout the world, including the Vatican for “doing his own thing.”

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 9:23 AM By Don Guillermo
JLS: CCC 2243 doesn’t “back” justified insurrection, but rather it provides the conditions that would have to be met in order for the insurrection not to be immoral. First Things Journal held a forum on this subject in 1996 titled “The End of Democracy?” Robert Bork participated in the forum. A Catholic priest, Father Neuhaus, was the editor.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 10:40 AM By Mark from PA
Catherine, you say that your bishop is a very bad bishop but that is just your personal opinion. How is it a sign of heresy for me to say that the bishop that the Pope himself chose for your diocese is the bishop of all Catholics in your diocese?

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 11:01 AM By MIKE
In order that there be no misinterpretation by individuals – QUOTE – CCC: ” 2243 Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met: 1) there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights; 2) all other means of redress have been exhausted; 3) such resistance will not provoke worse disorders; 4) there is well-founded hope of success; and 5) it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution.” UNQUOTE. Please reread the word “ALL”. This is not the case in the USA at this time.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 1:00 PM By MIKE
In order that there be no misinterpretation by individuals – QUOTE – CCC: ” 2243 Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is NOT legitimate, unless ALL the following conditions are met: 1) there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights; 2) all other means of redress have been exhausted; 3) such resistance will not provoke worse disorders; 4) there is well-founded hope of success; and 5) it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution.” UNQUOTE. Caps are mine. This is not the case in the USA at this time.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:25 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
MIKE, 1:00 PM, “This is not the case in the USA at this time.” Not yet, and THAT IS YOUR OPINION AND NOT THE OPINION OF MANY OTHERS! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:41 PM By OSCAR
Mark from PA, any Bishop who does not adhere to the CCC, and follow their job description which is contained in the CCC – is a bad bishop. Any Catholic regardless of rank within the Church must adhere to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”. If they do not, they are heretics or schismatics. – This includes us.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:41 PM By k
Mark from PA, the priests at her parish think the whole church is in heresy or schism or dissent. I couldn’t figure out why she kept calling me a dissenter. This is why. The pastor believes you have to leave the Church to save your soul. They believe they are preserving the true faith and that it is impossible to live the priesthood in the “Novus Ordo.” They believe that the Pope is the Pope so they are not sedevacantists but they believe that a future Pope or council may conclude that he was not really a Pope because of heresy, but they give him submisson except in things that are “immoral or dangerous to the spiritual well-being of the Faithful.” They teach traditional Catholicism, although they also believe that the consecration of Russia was not done properly. I like that they do the Rogation Days. I can see why people would be tempted to attend Mass at this chapel. There are a lot of frustrations for traditional Catholics in the Church. A lot of things that Bishop Tod Brown has done in the past have eroded people’s confidence in him. I lived in his diocese and it is the only place I have been where the priest rebuked women for immodest dress from the pulpit. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is high. There is a Marian conference there every year. It is devoted to Our Lady of Medjugorje (which is an ongoing aparitiona and not approved). I found less liturgical abuse in Orange County than in the parish I came from. I attended daily Mass at two different parishes and never encountered any modernism. Except- our “only in California” moment came when the pastor asked a kid when his birthday was and then said, “Then you must be a Scorpio.” And there were sometimes buliten notices for retreats that we thought were not Catholic.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:44 PM By JLS
MIKE, even if it is not presently the case in the USA, remember the cardinal rule (pun intended) which is to be prepared.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:47 PM By JLS
Don Guillermo, with holy bishops, the CCC is moot.