Catholic Health Association: administration’s new HHS mandate ‘compromise’ is ‘substantial progress’
February 14, 2013
A week after Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated that the Obama administration’s most recent “compromise” on the HHS mandate fails to preserve the religious liberty of Catholic individuals and Catholic institutions, the president of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) stated that the proposal represents “substantial progress.”
“The structures that HHS intends to use to provide contraceptive services to employees of non-profit religious organizations have yet to be finalized, especially for those who are self-insured,” said Sister Carol Keehan, who revealed that “we have been asked by HHS to evaluate three possible options for using a third party administrator (TPA) and make recommendations. CHA has asked our members to review these options in relation to their self-insurance structures and give us input. CHA will provide that to HHS during the comment period.”
“Throughout this sometimes challenging period, CHA has remained in constant dialogue with the leadership of the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops, individual Bishops who had concerns and suggestions and the Administration,” she added. “We believe that our commitment to dialogue to an acceptable solution is matched by all parties and we are committed to completing resolution of this issue.”
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Further information:
- Catholic Health Association Seeks Members' Input On HHS Proposed Rule for Contraceptive Services (CHA)
- HHS mandate ‘compromise’ still not acceptable: Cardinal Dolan (CWN, 2/7)
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Posted by: unum -
Feb. 15, 2013 6:51 AM ET USA
CHA is making the USCCB look astute, for a change. The Obama administration is playing the CHA like a fiddle for PR and political purposes to show all of those "practicing Catholics" like Joe Biden how "fair" they are. The USCCB, on the other hand, appears to be doing its job, explaining to the administration and the faithful why Obamacare is morally wrong and unconstitutional when it comes to contraception and the morning after pill.
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Posted by: -
Feb. 14, 2013 11:57 PM ET USA
You would think from Sister Keehan's statement that she represents the Catholic Church, not the Bishops. You would also think that by now the Bishops would have had enough of Sister Keehan's double dealings and politely but firmly but her in her place. The same goes for the Obama administration. They need to be put on public notice that the Bishops are the voice of Catholicism and the administration should be working directly with the Bishops, not Sister Keehan.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
Feb. 14, 2013 5:58 AM ET USA
CHA has been in constant dialogue with the administration. Meanwhile, the administration has not spoken to cardinal Dolan. Nothing like getting frozen out of the negotiations and saying and doing nothing about it. Obama is making the USCCB look like chumps.
