Obama's new contraceptive policy - Catholic Church

Catholic Church, reserve judgment? 

 'cause their church never made the great leap out of the Middle Ages and the domination of alien Episcopal supremacy- Harry Blackitt

Catholic Church, Sen. Nelson reserve judgment on Obama's new contraceptive policy

President Obama sought to douse a firestorm over religious liberty, birth control and the reach of the federal health care law Friday by modifying a requirement that religious schools, hospitals and charities offer their employees insurance plans with free contraceptive coverage.

The president announced that if a church-linked institution objects on religious grounds to purchasing contraception for its employees, its insurance company will be required to offer the coverage directly to the employees at no cost and "without hassles."

Some critics said insurers will merely pass on the costs of coverage to the religious institutions, but the Catholic archbishop who led opposition to the original policy said he's reserving judgment on the new plan.

Obama's announcement came three stormy weeks after his Department of Health and Human Services announced that church-affiliated institutions, but not churches themselves, would be required to offer contraceptive coverage even if they have religious objections.

That policy drew vehement opposition from the Catholic Church, which teaches that contraception is sinful, as well as from many social conservatives who do not share the Catholic view of birth control but called the administration's requirement part of a broader attack on religious freedom.

Some Democrats also criticized the administration's original policy, suggesting its potential toxicity in an election year.

Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who is up for reelection in November, called for the initial rule to be "fixed" and Friday offered guarded support for Obama's revision.

"This seems to solve the problem where religious-affiliated institutions won't have to provide coverage if it's not in keeping with its beliefs and women will have access to contraception," Nelson said. "But I still intend to review the specifics of the rule."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also said it is studying the new policy.

"While there may be an openness to respond to some of our concerns, we reserve judgment on the details until we have them," said Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, the president of the bishops conference and a leading critic of the original policy.

"Today's decision to revise how individuals obtain services that are morally objectionable to religious entities and people of faith is a first step in the right direction," Dolan said. "We hope to work with the Administration to guarantee that Americans' consciences and our religious freedom are not harmed by these regulations."

Under the health care overhaul that Congress passed and Obama signed in 2010, most employers must offer insurance plans that include no-cost preventive care, including contraceptive services, check-ups, immunizations and mammograms. The Obama administration has been drafting specific regulations to implement the law.

Not all religious groups opposed the policy. The public policy arm of the United Methodist Church, which like the Catholic Church, runs hospitals and universities across the country, applauded the mandate to cover contraception, according to The New York Times. And a coalition of mainline Protestants, Muslims, and Reform and Conservative Jews supported the initial policy.

Women's health advocates and liberal groups praised the administration's initial policy and Friday's modification for guaranteeing that women will have access to contraceptives regardless of where they work.

"This is a victory, plain and simple," said Stephanie Schriock of EMILY's List, which backs female candidates who support abortion rights. She said the new policy means that "not a single woman, no matter where she works, will lose access to free contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act."

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards also praised Obama's announcement Friday.

"In the face of a misleading and outrageous assault on women's health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays, no additional hurdles, and no matter where they work."

Richards also supported the original policy, arguing that religious institutions "who serve the broad public, employ the broad public, and receive taxpayer dollars, should be required to follow the same rules as everyone else, including providing birth control coverage and information." source:

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Barack Hussein Obama II: Look at them, bloody Catholics, filling the bloody world up with bloody people they can't afford to bloody feed.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: What are we dear? 

Barack Hussein Obama II: Protestant, and fiercely proud of it.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: Hmm. Well, why do they have so many children?

Barack Hussein Obama II: Because... every time they have sexual intercourse, they have to have a baby.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: But it's the same with us, Barack . 

Barack Hussein Obama II: What do you mean?

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: Well, I mean, we've got two children, and we've had sexual intercourse twice. 

Barack Hussein Obama II: That's not the point. We could have it any time we wanted. 

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: Really?

Barack Hussein Obama II: Oh, yes, and, what's more, because we don't believe in all that Papist claptrap, we can take precautions.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: What, you mean... lock the door?

Barack Hussein Obama II: No, no. I mean, because we are members of the Protestant Reformed Church, which successfully challenged the autocratic power of the Papacy in the mid-sixteenth century, we can wear little rubber devices to prevent issue

. 

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: What d'you mean?

Barack Hussein Obama II: I could, if I wanted, have sexual intercourse with you... 

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: Oh, yes, Barack .

Barack Hussein Obama II: ...and, by wearing a rubber sheath over my old feller, I could insure... that, when I came off, you would not be impregnated. 

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: Ooh.

Barack Hussein Obama II: That's what being a Protestant's all about. That's why it's the church for me. That's why it's the church for anyone who respects the individual and the individual's right to decide for him or herself. When Martin Luther nailed his protest up to the church door in fifteen-seventeen, he may not have realised the full significance of what he was doing, but four hundred years later, thanks to him, my dear, I can wear whatever I want on my John Thomas... 

[sniff] 

Barack Hussein Obama II: ... and, Protestantism doesn't stop at the simple condom. Oh, no. I can wear French Ticklers if I want. 

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: You what? 

Barack Hussein Obama II: French Ticklers. Black Mambos. Crocodile Ribs. Sheaths that are designed not only to protect, but also to enhance the stimulation of sexual congress. 

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: Have you got one? 

Barack Hussein Obama II: Have I got one? Uh, well, no, but I can go down the road any time I want and walk into Barack 's and hold my head up high and say in a loud, steady voice, 'Barack , I want you to sell me a condom. In fact, today, I think I'll have a French Tickler, for I am a Protestant.' 

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama: Well, why don't you?

Barack Hussein Obama II: But they - Well, they cannot, 'cause their church never made the great leap out of the Middle Ages and the domination of alien Episcopal supremacy