Washington – House Speaker John Boehner accused the Obama administration Wednesday of an “unambiguous attack on religious freedom,” promising that Congress will reverse a new policy requiring religious schools and hospitals to provide employees with free birth control if the president doesn’t.
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Escalating a fight that has roiled the presidential race, Boehner demanded that President Barack Obama overturn the policy that Boehner called a violation of First Amendment rights. The administration’s mandate has angered religious groups, especially Catholics, who say the requirement would force them to violate their beliefs against contraception, and congressional Republicans.
“This attack by the federal government on religious freedom in our country cannot stand, and will not stand,” Boehner, a Catholic and Ohio Republican, said in a rare floor speech.
On the other side of the Capitol, the Republican onslaught continued, with GOP senators vowing to push ahead with legislation to undo the requirement.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., stood with other GOP lawmakers, and called the new rule “an unprecedented affront to religious liberty. This is not a women’s’ rights issue. This is a religious liberty issue.”
Said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.: “This has nothing to do with contraception. …. This is about whether the government of the United States should have the power to go in and tell a faith-based organization that they have to pay for something that they teach their members shouldn’t be done. It’s that simple. And if the answer is yes, then this government can reach all kinds of other absurd results.”
The White House, facing a public and political outcry, signaled on Tuesday that a compromise is possible. Options could include granting leeway for a church-affiliated employer not to cover birth control, provided it referred employees to an insurer who would provide the coverage.
Another idea, previously rejected by the administration, calls for broadening the definition of a religious employer that would be exempt from the mandate beyond houses of worship and institutions whose primary purpose is to spread the faith. That broader approach would track a definition currently used by the IRS, bringing in schools, hospitals and social service agencies that deal with the general public.
Republican White House hopefuls Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have been relentless in assailing the administration, criticizing the president at campaign stops. Romney has accused Obama of an “assault on religion” and Gingrich called the rule an “attack on the Catholic Church.”
Boehner said that if the administration fails to reverse the policy, then Congress will act. He said that in the coming days, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will move ahead on legislation.
First amendment rights? obama wants to be a dictator. he himself said the constitution prevents him from getting things done; however the liar he doing back handed by his czar and decrees. Czar gee reminds me of Russia.
Wha a joke congress has no power whatsoever, the president with one flick of his pen could veto all their legislation (unless you have 2/3 of congress which is highly unlikely in the political gridlock were in).
What a joke! Isn’t Viagra covered under most insurance companies?! The Catholic Church seems to have no problems with THAT.
Whenever it’s about women’s issues… why is it that men always need to decide what’s best for us?!
We’re not talking about abortion here! We’re talking about insurance companies covering birth control & tubal ligations or vasectomies! The same basic birth control coverage most insurance companies offer everyone!
And all the Obama Administration has said is this: if you are a church, synagogue, etc… you are EXEMPT from having to cover your employees w\insurance like that!
BUT, if you are running a type of organization where non-Catholics are working & YOU TAKE PUBLIC MONEY (ie: so think Catholic hospitals, etc.) you HAVE to provide these most basic services to your employees (nurses, doctors, janitors) **IF** they so choose to use them!
Not all of the employees at places like that are Catholic. What business is it of theirs to tell non-Catholics how to (not) use birth control? And if an employee IS Catholic & doesn’t believe in using birth control… then great! The gov’t isn’t going to FORCE them to. (lol)
Why the fake outrage all of the sudden?!?!
Another ridiculous “social issue” for election season. Economy? Jobs? No… we’re worried about whether or not hospitals run by religious organizations can cover condoms.
This is the sad state of the Republican Party.
Let’s all please remember that the overwhelming majority of hospitals in this nation are run by xian organizations.
I can understand if there are people in hospitals who object to discussing or prescribing contraception. Those PEOPLE should be exempt, so long as the hospital guarantees that there is always someone on staff who can handle such issues without objection, especially in emergency cases.
Would we be OK if they refused to do fertilize embryos for implantation, or treat someone with implanted embryos?
Would you be OK if they denied you a life-saving stem-cell treatment?
If you find yourself pregrant in Saint Whomever hospital and facing a tragic situation where there is a rodef inside you. Most xian groups require that the mother die and the rodef be allowed to live, in direct opposition to halocho.
Don’t ever forget that these kinds of laws are NEVER good for us.
We are not Xians and we don’t need their garbage pushed on us.