AN ACCOMODATION REGARDING CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE IN RELIGIOUS FACILITIES ANNOUNCED BY THE WHITE HOUSE............,

After a two week firestorm over the Obama Administration's decision to require Catholic and other religious based hospitals and health care services, to provide and or pay for contraception under the new National Health Care coverage; much of the opposition to the proposed requirement led by the U.S. Catholic Bishops, led by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, citing infringement on religious liberty and violation of conscience; the White House announced an accommodation today, attempting to deflect, if not ameliorate the conflict.  Church related health care facilities will not have to pay for contraceptive coverage of their employees, but coverage will still be available to all women employees, through the insurance companies.  Today's decision is a compromise that will not please everyone, but does lift a mandate that would otherwise fly in the face of official Catholic Teaching.  The controversy has also spread into the political arena with opposition on the part of Republican presidential candidates and congressional leaders, as well as a number of Democrats, including the Vice President.  The right to religious liberty and the freedom of religion are enshrined in the the Constitution of the United States.   Where governance, religion, and politics, intersect as in this situation, a balance must be achieved that allows the human conscience of Catholics and other Believers to not be violated by a mandate imposed upon them that is contrary to the moral values they profess or practice.  May the outcome of this current debate increase and strengthen the acknowledgement and affirmation of religious liberty and freedom in faith, to follow our well formed conscience in fulfillment  of both our citizenship as Americans, and disciples of Jesus the Christ............Fr.  Troy