White House criticizes bishops, trumpets support from CHA, Catholic Charities

February 15, 2012

Insisting that it is “dangerous” and “wrong” for women not to have access to contraceptives free of charge, the White House press secretary asserted that the US bishops “never supported health reform to begin with”--prompting a rebuttal from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

During the February 13 White House press briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked a lengthy question:

On Friday, you seemed pretty satisfied that the contraception issue had been settled and you wanted to move on. But the bishops put out a statement saying that it still raises serious moral concerns, and said the President's plan "continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions." As you know, there's also legislation in the Senate. One would allow any employer to raise a conscience objection to the contraceptive issue. Another one is broader -- even raise conscience objections to any aspect of the rule at all. Is this issue settled? Are you going to be able to move forward? The bishops have control of the pulpit, so to speak, and they have been talking against it.

Carney replied that

the organizations that will be most affected by this -- Catholic Charities and the Catholic Health Association -- have expressed their support for this policy, and we obviously appreciate that.

Now, we never set out with the assumption that everyone would be satisfied with this balanced approach, with this what we believe -- approach that ensures that women get -- all women, no matter where they work, get the preventive services they deserve and need, and that religious liberties are accommodated. And I would simply note with regard to the bishops that they never supported health care reform to begin with, of which this is an important element.

So then I would like to address the legislation you mentioned. And whether it’s Senator Rubio or Blunt, the issue here is giving employers the right to deny women -- to deny women -- access to preventive services, including contraception free of charge. So essentially, this bill or these bills would give any employer the right to deny the women who work for them contraceptive coverage. That's dangerous and it is wrong. And we oppose that.

In response to the assertion that the bishops “never supported health care reform to begin with,” Bishop Stephen Blaire, of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, replied, “That is not the case.”

“Since 1919, the United States Catholic bishops have supported decent health care for all and government and private action to advance this essential goal,” he added. “Long before the current battles, the Catholic Church was persistently and consistently advocating for this overdue national priority.”

“The USCCB opposed the final legislation because it failed this test [of protecting human life and conscience], a judgment sadly but clearly borne out by the failure of the law and the recent regulation to protect conscience and religious liberty,” he continued.

“I hope those who made or repeated this false statement will correct the record and report the bishops’ long and consistent record of support for health care which protects the life, dignity and consciences of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.”

 

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Further information:

• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/13/12 (White House)
• Bishop Blaire Refutes White House Press Secretary’s Claim That Bishops Never Supported Health Care Reform (USCCB)