Obama admin: Religious employers must cover free birth control
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Rachel Zoll
WASHINGTON (AP) - Many church-affiliated institutions will have to cover free birth control for employees, the Obama administration announced Friday in an election-year move that outraged religious groups, fueling a national debate about the reach of government.
In a concession, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said nonprofit institutions such as church-affiliated hospitals, colleges and social service agencies will have one additional year to comply with the requirement, issued in regulations under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
"I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services," Sebelius said in a statement.
Yet the concession was unlikely to stop a determined effort by opponents to block or overturn the rule. If they fail, some predicted that religious employers would simply drop coverage for their workers, opting instead to pay fines to the federal government under the health care law.
"Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience," said New York Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."
Officials said the administration's ruling was carefully considered, after reviewing more than 200,000 comments from interested parties and the public. The one-year extension, they said, responds to concerns raised by religious employers about making adjustments. Administration officials stressed that individual decisions about whether or not to use birth control, and what kind, remain in the hands of women and their doctors.
Underscoring the sensitivity of the decision, Obama personally spoke with Dolan on Friday to inform him of the announcement, an administration official said.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a powerhouse law firm based in Washington that tackles religious freedom issues, predicted in a statement that religious groups "will never pay for abortion drugs in violation of their religious beliefs." Many religious conservatives consider the morning-after birth control pill to be an abortion drug.
Liberals and women's rights groups praised the decision, saying that women who work for religious employers should not have to accept a lower standard of health coverage.
"The administration stood firm," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "As a result millions will get access to contraception, and they will not have to ask their bosses for permission."
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a member of Senate leadership, said, "The president made the right decision by putting access and the reproductive rights of women first."
Birth control use is virtually universal in the United States, and most health insurance plans cover the pill, usually with copays. Still, about half of all pregnancies are unplanned.
At issue is a provision of the health care law that requires insurance plans to cover preventive care for women free of charge to the employee. Last year, an advisory panel from the respected Institute of Medicine recommended including birth control on the list, partly because it promotes maternal and child health by allowing women to space their pregnancies.
Sebelius agreed, issuing a new federal regulation last summer.
That rule, however, exempted houses of worship and their employees, as well as other institutions whose primary purpose is to promote religious belief. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other places would not be required to cover contraceptives, it specified.
It was a different story for religious-affiliated hospitals, colleges and social service agencies.
Although many of those employers had not traditionally covered birth control, the new regulation required them to do so. Catholic hospitals, which at a critical moment had defied the bishops to back Obama's health care law in Congress, immediately sought a broader exemption. On Friday they were denied.
Representing some 600 hospitals, the Catholic Health Association expressed disappointment.
"The challenge that these regulations posed for many groups remains unresolved," said Sister Carol Keehan, president of the group. "This indicates the need for an effective national conversation on the appropriate conscience protections in our pluralistic society, which has always respected the role of religions."
The administration says between 1 million and 2 million people work for religious-affiliated institutions, though it's not clear how many would be affected. Some states already require religious employers to cover the pill.
For religious-affiliated employers, the requirement will take effect August 1, 2013, and their workers in most cases will have access to coverage starting January 1, 2014.
Women working for secular enterprises from profit-making companies to government will have access to the new coverage starting January 1, 2013, in most cases.
Workplace health plans will have to cover all forms of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ranging from the pill to implantable devices to sterilization. Also covered is the morning-after pill, which can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex and is considered as tantamount to an abortion drug by some religious conservatives.
However, the new regulation does not require coverage of abortions.
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Associated Press writer Julie Pace contributed to this report.
Girl Scouts not safe for girls?
The radical homosexuals have found out that their perverted scheme for the Girl Scouts of America will not go unopposed.
In fact, the lid has been blown off their whole operation.
You see, over the past few months Public Advocate has been leading the effort to prevent the inclusion of boys into the Girl Scouts ranks.
It all started in Colorado when young Bobby Montoya’s mother demanded that he be allowed to participate in his local Girl Scouts, including going on camping trips and sharing sleeping spaces with the girls.
And her only justification for his inclusion: He likes to wear skirts.
Despite the decision of the local troop leaders to turn him away for obvious reasons, the higher ups overrode them, forced his inclusion, and set a new standard for the Girl Scouts nationwide:
If any minor claims to be a girl they must be allowed to join.
There is no way of knowing how many girls could be hurt by this new policy!
Well let me tell you, the leadership thought they could get this radical change implemented nation-wide without making a peep, but this was actually the last straw.
You see, for years now the Girls Scouts of America have been secretly in bed with the worst of the worst in the radical liberal lobby.
Planned Parenthood, the Homosexual Lobby, and the United Nations. The national leadership for Girl Scouts of America works with them all.
But Public Advocate sounded the alarm and the fight has been on ever since.
Now concerned parents and young ladies in the Girl Scouts are fighting back against their leadership's out-of-touch proclamations.
Three troops in Louisiana completely disbanded rather than allow boys to masquerade as girls in their ranks.
And now a new group, Honest Girl Scouts, is educating the whole country about the radical Homosexual Agenda that the Girl Scouts are embracing.
At the fore-front of the Honest Girl Scouts is a young girl who has created a video begging Americans to boycott Girl Scout cookies.
It touches my heart to see a young woman willing to take such a stand against the radical Homosexual Lobby.
And I am very proud to say that Public Advocate’s work has played a part in encouraging her to speak out.
My friend, we cannot let them fight this alone.
I pledge to you right now that Public Advocate will fight alongside them in this struggle.
It is completely unacceptable that any group would put this nation’s young girls in that much danger.
Will you help me see justice done?
For the Family,
Eugene Delgaudio
President, Public Advocate of the United States
Ron Paul: A Man of Faith
Dear Fellow Conservative,
As a Christian, I firmly believe a man's faith and his values are something we need to take into deep consideration when choosing the next President of the United States.
Earlier this week, I decided to endorse Ron Paul because, like me, Ron Paul is a man of deep Christian faith.
Of course, Ron Paul doesn't always talk about his faith, because he doesn't want to seem like he's exploiting it for political gain.
So today, I'm writing you to tell you a little bit about the Ron Paul I've gotten to know.
Ron Paul is married to his high school sweetheart, Carol, and together they have 5 children and 18 grandchildren.
Ron Paul is an Air Force Veteran, having proudly served our country as a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force and in the Air National Guard.
While in the military, Ron Paul took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. As a member of Congress, he's taken a similar oath, with one hand on the Bible and the other held high.
And as a Christian, an oath to God is something that Ron Paul takes seriously.
That's why, during his entire time in Congress, Ron Paul has NEVER voted for a single piece of legislation that wasn't expressly authorized by the Constitution.
That's because Ron Paul doesn't just "talk the talk" but truly lives his faith.
For example, as a medical doctor, Ron Paul had two rules in his office.
First, absolutely NO abortions. Second, his office refused to accept any federal funds.
But Dr. Paul didn't turn patients away. Instead, he treated them for discounted prices, and if they couldn't afford that, he treated them for FREE.
That's because Ron Paul understands that we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves in Mark 12:31.
In fact, a few weeks ago, a Texas man named James Williams told a touching story to the national media about how back in the 1970s, his wife had a complication with her pregnancy, and was having trouble finding medical care.
Ron Paul gave them free medical care, and he never even sent them a bill of any kind for his services.
When asked about it in a news interview, Ron Paul didn't recall the story. That's because Ron Paul did these types of things all the time.
That's just the type of man Ron Paul is and always has been.
As a Congressman, he doesn't participate in the lucrative Congressional pension program. He's never voted to increase his own salary. He's never taken a government-paid junket, and he returns a portion of his budget back to the Treasury Department every year.
Earlier, I mentioned how Ron Paul believes in a strict adherence to the Constitution and understands that national defense is the primary and most important function of our federal government.
That's why he voted for the use of force in Afghanistan after 9-11, and he supported going after Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders.
Our troops understand that Ron Paul knows what it takes to keep America safe, which is why he has received more contributions from members of the military than all other Republican candidates – COMBINED.
You see, when it comes to foreign policy, Ron Paul isn't saying that we should never go to war.
All Ron Paul is saying is that members of Congress should take their constitutional oath to God seriously, and if war is necessary, we should follow the Constitution and declare it, fight it, win it, and come home.
The Ron Paul I know is a humble man of deep Christian faith.
And I'm sure you agree that with the state of moral decline our nation is currently in, we need an evangelical Christian man in the White House to turn our country around.
Ron Paul is that man.
If you live here in South Carolina, I hope you'll join me in voting for Ron Paul tomorrow. If you don't, I hope you'll make a generous contribution to help spread Dr. Paul's message of liberty into Florida and beyond.
For Liberty,
Kevin Bryant
State Senator
District 3
P.S. I've recently gotten to know Congressman Ron Paul on a personal level, and I can tell you that, like me, Ron Paul is a strong Christian man of deep faith.
You can read his personal Statement of Faith HERE.
If you live here in South Carolina, I hope you'll join me in voting for Ron Paul tomorrow. If you don't, I hope you'll make a generous contribution to help spread Dr. Paul's message of liberty into Florida and beyond.
As a Christian, I firmly believe a man's faith and his values are something we need to take into deep consideration when choosing the next President of the United States.
Earlier this week, I decided to endorse Ron Paul because, like me, Ron Paul is a man of deep Christian faith.
Of course, Ron Paul doesn't always talk about his faith, because he doesn't want to seem like he's exploiting it for political gain.
So today, I'm writing you to tell you a little bit about the Ron Paul I've gotten to know.
Ron Paul is married to his high school sweetheart, Carol, and together they have 5 children and 18 grandchildren.
Ron Paul is an Air Force Veteran, having proudly served our country as a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force and in the Air National Guard.
While in the military, Ron Paul took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. As a member of Congress, he's taken a similar oath, with one hand on the Bible and the other held high.
And as a Christian, an oath to God is something that Ron Paul takes seriously.
That's why, during his entire time in Congress, Ron Paul has NEVER voted for a single piece of legislation that wasn't expressly authorized by the Constitution.
That's because Ron Paul doesn't just "talk the talk" but truly lives his faith.
For example, as a medical doctor, Ron Paul had two rules in his office.
First, absolutely NO abortions. Second, his office refused to accept any federal funds.
But Dr. Paul didn't turn patients away. Instead, he treated them for discounted prices, and if they couldn't afford that, he treated them for FREE.
That's because Ron Paul understands that we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves in Mark 12:31.
In fact, a few weeks ago, a Texas man named James Williams told a touching story to the national media about how back in the 1970s, his wife had a complication with her pregnancy, and was having trouble finding medical care.
Ron Paul gave them free medical care, and he never even sent them a bill of any kind for his services.
When asked about it in a news interview, Ron Paul didn't recall the story. That's because Ron Paul did these types of things all the time.
That's just the type of man Ron Paul is and always has been.
As a Congressman, he doesn't participate in the lucrative Congressional pension program. He's never voted to increase his own salary. He's never taken a government-paid junket, and he returns a portion of his budget back to the Treasury Department every year.
Earlier, I mentioned how Ron Paul believes in a strict adherence to the Constitution and understands that national defense is the primary and most important function of our federal government.
That's why he voted for the use of force in Afghanistan after 9-11, and he supported going after Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders.
Our troops understand that Ron Paul knows what it takes to keep America safe, which is why he has received more contributions from members of the military than all other Republican candidates – COMBINED.
You see, when it comes to foreign policy, Ron Paul isn't saying that we should never go to war.
All Ron Paul is saying is that members of Congress should take their constitutional oath to God seriously, and if war is necessary, we should follow the Constitution and declare it, fight it, win it, and come home.
The Ron Paul I know is a humble man of deep Christian faith.
And I'm sure you agree that with the state of moral decline our nation is currently in, we need an evangelical Christian man in the White House to turn our country around.
Ron Paul is that man.
If you live here in South Carolina, I hope you'll join me in voting for Ron Paul tomorrow. If you don't, I hope you'll make a generous contribution to help spread Dr. Paul's message of liberty into Florida and beyond.
For Liberty,
Kevin Bryant
State Senator
District 3
P.S. I've recently gotten to know Congressman Ron Paul on a personal level, and I can tell you that, like me, Ron Paul is a strong Christian man of deep faith.
You can read his personal Statement of Faith HERE.
If you live here in South Carolina, I hope you'll join me in voting for Ron Paul tomorrow. If you don't, I hope you'll make a generous contribution to help spread Dr. Paul's message of liberty into Florida and beyond.
Paid for by Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee
www.ronpaul2012.com
www.ronpaul2012.com
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