With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, at 12:15 p.m. ET, President Obama will announce an attempt to accommodate these religious groups.
The move, based on state models, will almost certainly not satisfy bishops and other religious leaders since it will preserve the goal of women employees having their birth control fully covered by health insurance.
Sources say it will be respectful of religious beliefs but will not back off from that goal, which many religious leaders oppose since birth control is in violation of their religious beliefs.
One source familiar with the decision described the accommodation as “Hawaii-plus,” insisting that it’s better than the Hawaii plan — for both sides.
In Hawaii the employer is responsible for referring employees to places where they can obtain the contraception; Catholic leaders call that material cooperation with evil. But what the White House will likely announce later today is that the relationship between the religious employer and the insurance company will not need to have any component involving contraception. The insurance company will reach out on its own to the women employees. This is better for both sides, the source says, since the religious organizations do not have to deal with medical care to which they object, and women employees will not have to be dependent upon an organization strongly opposed to that care in order to obtain it.
Basically the White House will bluntly order the insurance companies to cover it free of charge and swallow the cost. I'm not sure how that works but that seems to be the plan more or less.
I've already heard screams that this is Obama caving and that mystifies me. If this plan goes through women will have access to contraceptives and not have to pay extra for them, they will be insured for them. That was the objective, the goal is achieved. How is achieving the goal caving in?
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
Don't know what's being said currently, but this seems a win-win for both sides. The institutions oppose to providing it don't have a part of it anymore and their employees have access to contraception.
Though a comment I read earlier this week seems to take it more in-depth that the issue is about religious hospitals not using medical procedures that will negatively affect fertility.
No. This is still a lose for conservative religious leaders. You have to remember, they (catholic church, some fundie protestant groups) dont want women to have access to birth control period (no pun intended)
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
Comrade Tortoise wrote:No. This is still a lose for conservative religious leaders. You have to remember, they (catholic church, some fundie protestant groups) dont want women to have access to birth control period (no pun intended)
Perhaps, but it eliminates their religious freedom argument to justify denying women that care. They simply no longer have anything to do with the discussion.
Gaze upon my works, ye mighty, and despair...
Havoc: "So basically if you side against him, he summons Cthulu."
Hotfoot: "Yes, which is reasonable."
Comrade Tortoise wrote:No. This is still a lose for conservative religious leaders. You have to remember, they (catholic church, some fundie protestant groups) dont want women to have access to birth control period (no pun intended)
Perhaps, but it eliminates their religious freedom argument to justify denying women that care. They simply no longer have anything to do with the discussion.
Religious Freedom for them means the right to impose their religion on others. See opposition to gay marriage, disruption of buddhist prayers in the senate, ongoing attempts to force children to pray in school....
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
Comrade Tortoise wrote:Religious Freedom for them means the right to impose their religion on others. See opposition to gay marriage, disruption of buddhist prayers in the senate, ongoing attempts to force children to pray in school....
I'm aware that their argument of 'religious freedom' is complete bullshit. I'm just saying that this change cuts the legs out from under it, bullshit or not. And I'd call that a good thing.
Gaze upon my works, ye mighty, and despair...
Havoc: "So basically if you side against him, he summons Cthulu."
Hotfoot: "Yes, which is reasonable."
With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, at 12:15 p.m. ET, President Obama will announce an attempt to accommodate these religious groups.
The move, based on state models, will almost certainly not satisfy bishops and other religious leaders since it will preserve the goal of women employees having their birth control fully covered by health insurance.
Sources say it will be respectful of religious beliefs but will not back off from that goal, which many religious leaders oppose since birth control is in violation of their religious beliefs.
One source familiar with the decision described the accommodation as “Hawaii-plus,” insisting that it’s better than the Hawaii plan — for both sides.
In Hawaii the employer is responsible for referring employees to places where they can obtain the contraception; Catholic leaders call that material cooperation with evil. But what the White House will likely announce later today is that the relationship between the religious employer and the insurance company will not need to have any component involving contraception. The insurance company will reach out on its own to the women employees. This is better for both sides, the source says, since the religious organizations do not have to deal with medical care to which they object, and women employees will not have to be dependent upon an organization strongly opposed to that care in order to obtain it.
Basically the White House will bluntly order the insurance companies to cover it free of charge and swallow the cost. I'm not sure how that works but that seems to be the plan more or less.
I've already heard screams that this is Obama caving and that mystifies me. If this plan goes through women will have access to contraceptives and not have to pay extra for them, they will be insured for them. That was the objective, the goal is achieved. How is achieving the goal caving in?
He didn't do it the way the Purists wanted. You might as well ask what was wrong about repealing DADT. The strain of Democrats who take any alteration(Or even start) as 'caving' are basically beyond mortal ability to satisfy. FDR could wheel in tomorrow and implement the Economic Bill Of Rights and they'd complain.
Also, I agree with Havoc. This is a compromise which still accomplishes the main goal, and cuts the legs out from under the opposition. I know quite well the opposition will not change their tune.. They want capitulation on birth control, not compromise.. But it is a good move politically and still works policy-wise.
Half-Damned, All Hero.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
