Cardinal Dolan; Obama Has Drawn a Line in the Sand

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said the Obama administration had “drawn an unprecedented line in the sand” with the decision. Bishop Dolan was referring to the recent HHS ruling that will force many Catholic institutions to include contraceptives including abortion inducing medications as no co- pay benefits in their healthcare insurance plans. While the decision has not attracted much media attention expect this issue to be heard loudly and often during the fall campaign.

“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” the cardinal-designate said in a separate statement. “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their health care is literally unconscionable. It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty.”