Someone needs to check out the White House’s library and make sure they do, in fact, have a copy of a dictionary. In it, President Obama could learn that a compromise traditionally involves two or more opposing parties coming together to solve a problem.
His recent “compromise” on the the controversial contraception mandate is a hedging of political bets — not a compromise. Not a single individual who opposed the original mandate was brought in to work on the “compromise.” To call the Administration’s reaffirmation of a national mandate for contraception and sterilization coverage a “compromise” is nothing but a falsehood.
Why do Catholics continue to stand in opposition to the Obama mandate? Millions of Americans not covered by the newly updated religious exemption will still be forced to pay for products and services they find objectionable.
However, the fundamental issue isn’t about contraception at all.
Instead, Americans, whether they’re Catholic or not, or whether they oppose the use of contraception or not, should be alarmed by the unprecedented actions by the Obama Administration to compel — by law — individuals to violate their own consciences.
President Obama and millions of Americans may think Catholics are wrong, old-fashioned, sexist, etc. when it comes to “The Pill,” but the government the President leads is obliged not to violate the consciences of millions of Catholics. This includes not forcing Catholics to pay for contraception and abortion.
President Obama’s historic overreach has united the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in opposition and millions of Catholics in the pews are learning about it from pulpits across the country.
It’s likely the Obama administration underestimated the vigor with which American Catholic bishops would oppose his violation of the First Amendment. Even after the so-called “compromise,” the bishops are standing strong.
With the resolve of the bishops more steadfast than ever, Catholics in the pews can expect to hear more letters and sermons on the over-reach.
If the President is hoping to win Pennsylvania and Ohio — swing states with large Catholic populations — he’ll give up on his plan to force millions of American Catholics into the unconscionable position of having to choose between keeping the faith or following the law.
