Today, Cardinal Timothy Dolan released a statement outlining the USCCB’s objections to the Obama administration’s revision of the revision of the contraception mandate. The new rule scotches the previous iteration’s much-maligned four-part definition of “religious employer,” and proposes arrangements to make sure religious employers — including colleges, hospitals, and charities — won’t have to pay for or refer for contraception coverage in their employee health plans. In other words, the Department of Health and Human Services listened to its critics and attempted to allay their concerns. As the editors of Commonweal put it, “This will do.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops disagrees. 

First, a word of praise for the tone of Cardinal Dolan’s statement. It avoids the hyperbolic rhetoric that has characterized this debate for far too long. The cardinal states that the bishops are open to further discussion. He acknowledges that the Obama administration “has heard some previously expressed concerns and that it is open to dialogue,” and promises “additional, careful study.” He notes that the new proposal does away with the “exceedingly narrow” definition of “religious employer,” which, the bishops claimed, “created a ‘second class’ of citizenship within our religious community” — subordinating Catholic charities to Catholic parishes. But apparently that’s not enough for the bishops.  Read the rest of this entry »

Given the initial response of critics of the Obama administration’s contraception-coverage mandate (except for one lone welcoming voice), it’s not terribly surprising that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, has announced his displeasure with last Friday’s proposed revision. Here’s his statement in full. Analysis later.

For almost a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have worked hard to support the right of every person to affordable, accessible, comprehensive, life-affirming healthcare.As we continue to do so, our changeless values remain the same.We promote the protection of the dignity of all human life and the innate rights that flow from it, including the right to life from conception to natural death; care for the poorest among us and the undocumented; the right of the Church to define itself, its ministries, and its ministers; and freedom of conscience.

Last Friday, the Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the HHS mandate that requires coverage for sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortions.The Administration indicates that it has heard some previously expressed concerns and that it is open to dialogue.With release of the NPRM, the Administration seeks to offer a response to serious matters which have been raised throughout the past year.We look forward to engaging with the Administration, and all branches and levels of government, to continue to address serious issues that remain. Our efforts will require additional, careful study.Only in this way can we best assure that healthcare for every woman, man and child is achieved without harm to our first, most cherished freedom. Read the rest of this entry »

As Bryan Cones notes, Cardinal Timothy Dolan appeared on CBS This Morning yesterday to discuss the dozen lawsuits filed by Catholic agencies against the Obama administration over the contraception mandate. During the interview, Cardinal Dolan repeated the bishops’ objection to the structure of the religious exemption:

They tell us if you’re really going be considered a church, if you’re going to be really exempt from these demands of the government, well, you have to propagate your Catholic faith in everything that you do, you can serve only Catholics and employ only Catholics.

That’s not true. Read the rest of this entry »