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Catholic League Poised To Go To War With Obama Over Mandatory Birth Control Payments

Donohue Says 70 Million Of His Voters Ready To Alter Presidential Election

February 6, 2012 11:00 PM
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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Catholic leaders upped the ante Monday, threatening to challenge the Obama administration over a provision of the new health care law that would require all employers, including religious institutions, to pay for birth control.

As CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reports, it could affect the presidential elections.

Catholic leaders are furious and determined to harness the voting power of the nation’s 70 million Catholic voters to stop a provision of President Barack Obama’s new heath car reform bill that will force Catholic schools, hospitals and charities to buy birth control pills, seo services, abortion-producing drugs and sterilization coverage for their employees.

“Never before, unprecedented in American history, for the federal government to line up against the Roman Catholic Church,” said Catholic League head Bill Donohue.

Already Archbishop Timothy Dolan has spoken out against the law and priests around the country have mobilized, reading letters  from the pulpit. Donohue said Catholic officials will stop at nothing to put a stop to it.

“This is going to be fought out with lawsuits, with court decisions, and, dare I say it, maybe even in the streets,” Donohue said.

But pro-choice groups said they will fight the church and fight for the right of employees of Catholic institutions to have birth control and other services paid for.

“The Catholic hierarchy seems to be playing a cynical game of chicken and they don’t seem to care that the health and well being of millions of American woman are what’s at stake here,” National Abortion Rights Action League President Andrea Miller said.

Catholic leaders hope they will have more sway with the White House than usual because it is a presidential election year, hoping that if even a small percentage of Catholics back Obama’s opponent it could cost him the election.

When asked if this issue would affect who he would vote for in November, Wilton, Conn., resident Peter Taylor said, “Potentially, yes. I think it is a very serious issue, very meaningful.”

But not everyone views the situation as dire.

“I would certainly vote for Obama anyway. The church has to get up to date,” Manhattan resident Sue Thomas said.

Sources told Kramer that American bishops are contemplating a massive march on Washington, using people and school kids bused in from all over to protest the law.

Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below …

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  • Fidelio

    This is not just a Catholic issue, but one for every person who cherishes his or her First Amendment right — freedom of religious expression, given by God and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. “First they came for the Jews and the gypsies, then the homosexuals, then the Catholics, then…” YOU.

    • db_cooper

      exactly… so many people have died for this constitution and the liberty it protects… are people today willing to fight and die for these freedoms… here, inside the United States? If another civil war is necessary… will people become cowards, or will they fight? Has the federal government become so powerful that ideologues from one side can trample the consitution, and oppress the rest of us? Obama is the closest thing to a tyrant that we have experienced in this country, and I don’t know what’s scarier… that very fact, or the fact that so many too blind or stupid to recognize it, because they happen to be on the side of the ideologue of the moment. I am willing to FIGHT and DIE for these freedoms… in particular, for my freedom to practice my faith, and NOT be FORCED to work or pay for practices that I know to be intrinsically EVIL. By the way… willingness to fight does not only imply willingness to die… it also implies willingness to KILL, if there should be a civil war.

  • JohnF

    People are free to choose health care providers, and determine if they want one that pays for birth control. Those that want health insurance providers to pay for birth control will only increase the rates of insurances that provide it. There is no reason the pro-choice group needs to get upset over the Catholic church not wanting their insurance company to have to provide for it. And the Catholic church doesn’t care of other insurance companies provide it.

    The government has no business telling insurance companies what they can and cannot cover.

  • Virginia

    The Catholic Vote will now reject you this time Mr. Obama

    • http://ny9solyndra.wordpress.com NY9Solyndra

      He’s still got the Islamofascist vote sewn up!

    • http://ny9solyndra.wordpress.com NY9Solyndra

      and the black supremacist vote, too!

      • http://ny9solyndra.wordpress.com NY9Solyndra

        can’t forget the communist vote, he’s definitely got that.

        • Separation of Church from State!

          And where does the White Supremacist fascist vote go? To the REPUGNICANT party. Disgusting! Keep your filthy bible off my clean body. Separation of church from state IS the American way. Thank goodness for Obama!!!!!

          • ynt

            Who cares who votes as long as they vote but this vote is going to put the empty suit dictator out to pasture. you’ll get over it in time.

          • Cubz Fan

            Separation of Church and State: You’re a little dense. No. Alot. In your inability to see the forest for the trees, you fail to notice the State is violating the very tenant you proclaim. It should be separation of Church and State (With the State not trying to dictate doctrine or practices of the Church). Obama now has upturned 500 years of tradition in this country by making the Word of God subject to his proclamations and edicts like he is some king or something.

            • sceptic

              The supreme court just heard a case where a woman that worked at a church had a child out of wedlock and the church fired her. guess what, the firing was upheld. Let this go to the supreme court to be decide by the laws of the constitution. This president and his minions treat the constitution like toilet paper.

          • Catholic&Embarassed To Say So

            LIKE!!!!!

            • Indy Esquire

              And if you would only keep your filthy vagina off man’s penis, you would never have to worry about any of this in the first place.

              If you choose to have sex, you willingly choose to risk the natural consequence of it, which is pregnancy. Why should another human life be forced to suffer death for your convenience?

  • CHUCK

    No matter wheer you stand on abortion yu have to stand against this decision. It is a direct attack on the Constitution and leaves all of us subject to the whims of a President that has very few morals that he follow. If he gets by with this we have major problems ahead of us on many fronts. For once people need to stand up and be counted.

  • Cain

    RomneyCare had the same requirement.

    The church was against condoms until 2010.

    Yeah they’re behind the times by a lot. 73% of Catholic women use contraceptives.

    • Fedpro

      Wrong, MassHealth does not require religious organizations to provide contraceptive and abortion services when it violates their beliefs. Get your facts straight.

    • Canof Sand

      Gingrich, is that you, you ol’ smearmonger?

  • volt007

    Just the tip of the Obama Communist ice burg. The Catholic Church is learning a tough lesion after stupidly voting for him in 08.

    • RestonResident

      The “Catholic Church” did not vote for Obama. People who call themselves Catholics but who do not adhere to Catholic doctrine voted for Obama.

      • hmm

        Oh my God! There’s at least one Conservative, thinking, intelligent person left in Reston, VA. Dude, if you go to the Catholic Church up that way and tell the folks there that voting for Obama was wrong, they will ride you out on a rail.
        I sympathize greatly but seriously after looking at the “Peace and Justice” crowd in our diocese, (many of them diocesan employees) and their support for Obama’s policies and platform, and the great silence from local hierarchy and pastors during Obama’s candidacy, well, I can see why people would say this…

    • Lisa

      This is it in a nut shell– about time the church speaks.. hope it’s not too late.

  • readmylips

    God’s Word does not change. Only people want to change it. His Word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

    • http://ny9solyndra.wordpress.com NY9Solyndra

      Barry interprets the Word of God to match Barry’s political beliefs.

    • Matt

      Yes. it is. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40: 8

  • http://ny9solyndra.wordpress.com NY9Solyndra

    Jesus talks to Barry to tell him what the IRS tax code should be, according to Barry.

  • chris

    Whats this may alter the election, I’m ready for another Putz removal program a 100 more career politicians out both party’s and The Don’ Obamanucci.. I must add that the Pope and the Vatican should not be for a Central world banking authority. we got tons to do folks . word from Detroit

    • Kmbold

      Lead on.

  • john kania

    It’s time to fight back the federal govt has now and contiues to go to far, stand your ground or give up your right to keep the feds out of your life. We can do fine without your help, always have and will do fine without there help. we are are not sheep waiting to be lead to slaughter by the Master in DC.

  • Dave

    “’I would certainly vote for Obama anyway. The church has to get up to date,’ Manhattan resident Sue Thomas said.”

    So Sue, do you believe it is a valid function of the US Government to modify or overrule, by force, basic beliefs of religious organizations?

    • Dan Giordano

      Sue compromised her faith the first time she voted for Obama knwing he was for partial birth abortion. Christ says you can’t serve two masters because you’ll love one and hate the other. The Democratic Party agrees, that’s why they urge Christians to separate church and state when voting. Obama was right about American no longer being a Christian Nation. If it were, he wouldn’t have been elected

    • HansJurgen

      It a radical plan of the Anti-Christ to overrule, by force basic beliefs of religious organizations. Hhhhhmmmm, could Obummer be the Anti-Christ? Abort him NOW!!!

    • Steven

      DAVE you are a typical Manhattan liberal A HOLE. Did you ever hear of Freedom Of Religion in the Constitution? Or does an African Muslim street thug from Chicago get to say screw the Constitution again and tell Catholics that the government is going to force them to violate one of their most basic and sacred rules about life. After all, no matter how you couch it in language, Abortion is not “choice” it’s killing babies. And I often wonder with all the problems we face in life and in the world, what made women turn against their own babies in their womb and fight for the right to kill them. You’re reading this from a man who isn’t even religious, but I know right from wrong, and “choice” from killing a human baby in a woman’s womb.

      • DagnerMouse

        I don’t follow you, Steven. Dave posts a quote from an Obama supporter, asks of that person a pointed question about the limits of the government’s authority and reach, and does so in a manner which strongly suggests a conservative interpretation of the situation, and he’s a “typical Manhattan liberal A HOLE”? Is it opposite day in your mind?

  • WingedHussar84

    It is refreshing to see the Bishops be the shepherds that they are meant to be. This event further underscores the fact that of the 60-odd million Catholics in America, many will reject infallible teaching to the face of the Church.

    Will Catholics follow Casti Connubii? Will many rather cry out Non Serviam?

    When His Grace Archbishop John Myers names the time and place I’m there. The media will say ‘a few thousand’ turned out when millions actually congregate to protest this action.

    • db_cooper

      Winged… trouble is, most Catholics haven’t read Casti Connubii, nor have they even read Humanae Vitae… God bless John Myers, but most Catholics watch Mike Meyers and listen to John Meyer… which is why they are a bunch of Oscar Meyers with no moral discernment, prudence or spine.

  • Roger

    Pro-choice advocates pretend that Catholic employees don’t have choices now. They have choices, they just can’t take choice away from the church in what it pays for.

  • Chere

    I’m a Catholic and although I support the DREAM Act and other democrat platforms, I will not compromise my views on abortion. Obama can count me as one less supporter

    • Dave LaSorte

      You were an idiot to vote for him the first time…

      • Fidelio

        Now, now, give her some room to grow.

        • kansas

          voting for Obama proved you were not a racist, now do not vote for Obama and prove that you are not an idiot.

  • Jpac

    Maybe it’s time the Church should turn off the lights in the hospitals, schools and charities. Maybe it is time to show the citizens of this country what Hell looks like: separation from God and chaos…. Christ descended into Hell for three days, he rose again, it was in his rising that the Church quickened.

    May God bless us all. Pray for the conversion of souls shackled to the slavery of death.

  • hihoze

    All Marxist Socialist governments seek to control and abolish the churches and others who stand between the State and its Slaves. Obama and the Democratic Socialist Party are following in the footsteps of Marx not Madison.

  • h star

    and another thing….how on earth can you catholics support the party of partial bith (baby mutilating) abortion?

    • jeff m

      No Catholic can support any type of direct abortion. To willing do so means automatic excommunication (CCC 2272). Pelosi and Sebellius are right-to-murder heretics. They have separated themselves from the Church.

    • RestonResident

      People can call themselves Catholics but just be CINOs (Catholics in name only). Anybody who identifies himself as a Catholic, but votes for a politician or party who supports partial birth abortion, IS NOT a Catholic adhering to the doctrine of the Catholic Church.

    • Emily Robinson

      I vote for President Obama becvasue he is a good God fearing Christian man who has my best interest at heart and is doing a good job running this Country I know God has showed him favor and will contiue to do so. God Bless :)

  • jeff m

    H is a pro-abortion zealot. He is willing to murder his own unborn grandchild. He is pro-abortion through all nine months. He manifests wanton homicidal intent. Any Catholic that would consider voting for this man needs to carefully read the Catechism paragraph 2272 and talk to their confessor.

    • Clarity-jane Seer

      He is evil and working for UN and Illuminati’s agenda to Depopulation any way shape or form! vaccines being pushed by the government and Bill Gates’s are causing cancer epidemically! Millions of abortions is DEPOPULATION!

  • HansJurgen

    Great, Obummer’s “Heath Car Reform bill”. Now, if we can just learn to spell or edit or have a pill that will enable our brains to spell correctly. On Obummer, yep, I’m at “war” with him as well and I hope to “abort” him out this year.

  • Martha Scott

    that Obama will have alot to answer for. If not here and now in the next world. He is not God and will find that out. I just hope it’s sooner than later.

  • Gene from Indiana

    This isn’t just about Cqtholics. As a Lutheran pastor, I would point out our large system of schools and hospitals. And yes,, we will refrain from voting for Obama due to this position.

    • Catherine Alexander

      That’s good to hear, Gene.

    • Burt Hicks

      Thanks, Gene, for showing that it’s not just Catholics who find this government intrusion unacceptable. As an active Pentecostal (Assemblies of God) church member I can assure you most of us are with you. (There are still a few Obama bumper stickers on members’ cars.)

  • AtlasObjectivist

    A total outrage. There is something seriously wrong with this president.

    • phillysmart

      …the guy is not intereted in bringing this country back he is interested in destroying it Obama is not an American he holds none of our vlues he is a closet Muslim when will you people get it

    • Thank Goodness for Obama!

      The “total outrage” is from the so called catholic church for trying to un-write separation of church from state. Thank goodness for Obama, and shame on the religious nut jobs.

      • mimsi

        Goodness and Obama have nothing in common.
        Don’t you understand? Catholics want the government ( OBAMA ) to BE SEPARATED from the state ( the people)….Can you not see what is happening? First his Administration mandates ultimate authority over your body and health, now they are moving at breakneck speed into the spiritual life of millions of people. We are incrementally becoming communist. You probably won’t even notice however, until they rule by law that you swallow some pill that you find personally bitter or far worse. Of course, by then it will be completely pointless to complain or feign outrage at the so called “religious right.”. For God’s sake, or if you’re an atheist, then for your own sake, GET A CLUE.

      • Anne

        Thank you for your great comment. You are a critical thinker and have a good mind.

        The Roman Catholic Church, a patriarchal institution, has for too many years interfered in the lives of Catholics. The Church refuses to believe/acknowledge that despite their “laws”, women and couples will do what they feel in their own conscience.

        I thank God for President Obama. He cares for people, using his Christian faith as his guide. God bless him and his family.

        God bless you and I bless you.

  • Stephen Masek

    Thanks Obama – this will indeed help get rid of you and the other radical leftists.

  • rhode island

    Obama is a liar and hates the Catholic Church. He WILL NOT have my vote in November!!!!

  • Clark

    The church has to get up to date? Who is supposedly leading the church? I thought that would be God’s decision, so does God need to get up to date?

    • lc

      God is immutable. Apparently the poster who said “the church has to get up to date” hasn’t been in a while (or ever) or would know that God does not change.

      • Clark

        My point exactly lc. We need to rid ourselves of pride and follow God.

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