Americans agree: Obama administration unfair to Little Sisters of the Poor

Last updated on: April 19, 2016 at 12:35 pm by CNA Daily News

Americans agree: Obama administration unfair to Little Sisters of the Poor 2016-04-19T12:35:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Apr 19, 2016 / 06:35 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A new survey says most Americans think the Obama administration’s federal contraception mandate is unfair to the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious groups defending themselves before the U.S. Supreme Court.

About 53 percent of Americans said the process required by the government is “unfair,” while only 32 percent did not, according to a new Marist Poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus.

The federal government has exempted many other organizations’ employee health care plans from a requirement to provide contraception and drugs that can produce abortions. But it has no exemption for the Little Sisters of the Poor, who help run houses to care for the elderly poor.

“It is not reasonable for the government to demand that some – and only some – religious employers engage in activity that is totally unnecessary to the government’s stated purpose of providing elective and morally problematic drugs to employees,” Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, said April 18.

“Such action doesn’t just violate the rights of employers like the Little Sisters, it is also at odds with the American people’s understanding of basic fairness, and our long-standing commitment to protecting the deeply-held beliefs of every American – especially when those beliefs are the minority view.”

The federal government has adjusted the rule several times. It presently provides what it describes as an “accommodation” that requires the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious organizations to sign a form for the government that directs their insurance providers to offer the objectionable coverage through their health plan.

The Little Sisters and other plaintiffs say that since sending the government their objection is the action that prompts the coverage through their own health plans, they are forced to act as “gatekeepers” and “facilitate” the objectionable coverage. Furthermore, they argue the government is “hijacking” their health plan, which is an agreement between them and their insurer.

Failure to comply with the mandate would result in steep fines, which the Little Sisters say would be crippling to their ministry of caring for the elderly and dying poor.

A Supreme Court decision on the case is expected by June.

The Marist Poll survey of 1,020 adults was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization with over 1.8 million members worldwide.

It claims an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Previous Post

April 19, 2016

Please forgive our indifference – Pope Francis' heartfelt plea to refugees

Next Post

April 19, 2016 CUA school of business receives millions in donations, gets new name

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible contains the most chapters of any prophetic book?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jeremiah Daniel Ezekiel Isaiah