Mass. Cardinal Pushes for Contraception Solution

Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley is continuing to push to resolve a dispute between the Obama administration and the Catholic church about covering contraception in health care plans.

In a blog post last month, O’Malley said the question is whether Catholic institutions will be forced to provide coverage for morally objectionable services through their health plans. O’Malley said he hopes the crisis clarifies religious freedom, which he called the “bedrock of our democracy.” The Obama administration has said employees of religious-affiliated institutions must be guaranteed reproductive health coverage, including contraception. Catholic bishops say they shouldn’t be forced to pay for contraception, which the church opposes. Obama modified the rule to shift the contraceptives’ costs from religious organizations to their insurance plans. But the bishops said that still forces them to subsidize something they consider immoral.