OBAMA ADMINISTRATION's HHS MANDATE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COMPROMISE COMPLETED.............

After a contentious year of debate with and push back from American Religious Leaders and their congregations, over the Health and Human Services Department Mandate that Contraception Insurance coverage be provided for all women employees, the Obama Administration has announced a compromise that addresses the primary concern of Religious Freedom in responding to the Mandate, yet meeting the requirement and intention of the Law.  The compromise proposal is considered a step back on the part of the policy enunciated by the HHS Mandate last year, which was vigorously opposed by the U.S. Catholic Bishops and the leadership of American Evangelical Christians.  The Obama Compromise concedes the requirement that non profit Religious organizations must directly provide Contraceptive coverage.  Instead, a third party entity will be required to provide the insurance coverage at no cost to the women employees.  The new proposal by the United States Department of Health is presented as a compromise that provides for the the safeguarding of women's health, while protecting the religious freedom and sensitivities of those who oppose artificial contraception coverage.  Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, herself a Catholic; stated today, "All new insurance plans will be required to cover additional services and tests for women, with no out of pocket costs".  That will mean current Catholic-Christian emplyee insurance plans will not be mandated to include Contraceptive coverage, but that new third party insurance plans will.  The immediate response to the HHS Mandate Compromise on the part of the Catholic Bishops and the most conservative Evangelical Leaders, who most fiercely fought the Mandate during the past year is, Cautious, but as of now not being Criticized.  The U.S, Supreme Court's upholding of the Affordable Care Act National Health Care Law last summer, now means a reasonable and acceptable Compromise over the Mandate must be reached.  The discussion, dialogue, and debate, is likely to continue as the Law is enacted and Religious organizations represent and preserve the freedom to espouse their teachings.............Fr.  Troy