JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The White House is calling it an important move. But members of the Catholic church say they cannot -- and will not -- comply. President Barack Obama's top political adviser is defending the administration's decision to require church-affiliated employers to cover birth control for their workers, calling it "important for millions of women around the country."
Under the new rules, churches would be exempt from covering contraception, but Catholic hospitals or colleges would not. The policy is expected to be phased in over the next year and a half.
Catholic leaders have condemned the regulation put out by the Department of Heath and Human Services. The President of Catholic University in Washington calls the mandate an assault on the faith.
"I can't think of another case in American law where a religious institution religious individuals have been forced to pay for activities that they themselves believe are sinful," said John Garvey.
The Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine is also sounding off on this issue. In a statement on it's website, Felipe Estevez says, "In generations past, the church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less."
Most heath care plans in America already cover contraception and according to surveys, 98 percent of Catholic women use contraception. But the administration, worried about the Catholic vote, has signaled that enforcement of the rule may not be very strict.
Administration officials have said they don't want to infringe on anyone's religious freedom.
