Trump Contracepts Promise to Little Sisters of the Poor

Last updated on: March 4, 2018 at 11:25 pm by Scott Eric Alt

Trump Contracepts Promise to Little Sisters of the Poor 2018-03-04T23:25:46-04:00 Scott Eric Alt

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.

Image via Pixabay

If Mr. Trump wanted—as he said he did, pinky swear—he could exempt the Little Sisters of the Poor from the contraception mandate with an executive order. He has issued twenty-five of them, so he knows what they are. The mandate is not part of the language of the ACA, so the fact that Congress did not overturn it does not in any way compel Mr. Trump to enforce it and fight on its behalf in Court.

And yet, according to the Washington Post, the Trump Administration has decided to continue the government’s legal battle against the Little Sisters of the Poor:

The department has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit for an additional 60 days to negotiate with East Texas Baptist University and several other religious groups objecting to a requirement to which they are morally opposed.

Now, why is the Trump Administration still attempting to “negotiate” if it is on the side of the Sisters, Texas Baptist, and the rest? Is there a sense in this? If Mr. Trump thinks that President Obama had violated religious liberty—remember, he said so—then how now?

The Post tries to cast this in the best light possible. Perhaps, it says, the Justice Department is trying to “buy time.” Peradventure Mr. Trump is just plotting his next strong blow against Obamacare.

But Mr. Trump has already proven he can issue executive orders like lightning. What’s one more? Call in Tom Price; call in Jeff Sessions. Tell them we’re not going to defend the mandate. I support religious freedom. Why the need to buy time?

Even the Post casts doubts on its own speculation:

But the lack of clarity from the Trump administration is dismaying to several religious organizations, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of nuns that fought the mandate for several years but expected an immediate reprieve under the Republican president. They believed that either the Justice Department would halt its appeal in the case or the administration would seek a rule change from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump pledged during the campaign that as president he’d side with the mandate’s opponents, indicating to Catholic leaders that he would ensure the requirement was lifted.

Let’s not delude ourselves here—Mr. Trump doesn’t need to seek permission for a rule change from HHS. He can order the rule change. But he hasn’t done so. Instead he continues to play tiddlywinks. Why?

Oh, yeah, everyone expected a rule change. Trump is on the side of the nuns. He is on the side of religious freedom. Pinky swear. Pro-life Catholics everywhere said we must vote for Trump because he will end the mandate and he will crush abortion like the serpent’s head. Pinky swear. We’ll get no religoius freedom under Hillary; we must vote Trump; he’s on our side; trust me; you’ll see.

Well? I told you so.

***

If you like the content on this blog, your generous gift to the author helps to keep it active. I remember all my supporters in my Mass intentions each week.

Contraception

In the News

Politics

Contraception Mandate

Donald Trump

Little Sisters of the Poor

Previous Post

April 24, 2017

Dissenting Catholic Dick Durbin Tells Dems Not to Dissent From Party on Abortion

Next Post

April 27, 2017 A Reader Says 1 Cor. 11:28-29 Does Not Bar Grave Sinners from the Eucharist

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion About Me Answers for Calvinists Answers to Media Fictions Answers to Objections Anti-Catholicism Apologetics Apostolic Succession Atonement Authority of the Church Baptism Benedictines Biblical Exegesis Blogging Book Reviews Books & Writing &c. Calvin's Institutes Capital Punishment Catholic Church Chastity Christology Church Fathers Church Social Doctrine Confession Contraception Conversion Stories Crusades Debates Depression & Suicide Deuterocanon Development of Doctrine Ecumenism English Language Eucharistic Adoration Exorcism Extra Ecclesiam Fisks & Rebuttals Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Fundamentalism Gender Politics Gender Theory Good Works Homosexuality Humor Idolatry Immaculate Conception In the News Inquisition ISIS Islam Just for Fun Just War Justification LCWR Limbo Liturgical Abuse Liturgical Year Magisterium Marriage and Family Mary Mortal Sin New Evangelization NFP Papacy Papal Documents Papal Infallibility Personal Narrative Politics Pope Francis Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome Population Control Praying to the "Dead" Priesthood Primacy of Peter Protestant Denominations Purgatory Radical Islam Radical Traditionalists Real Presence Right to Conscience RIght to Life Saints Same-Sex "Marriage" Seven Quick Takes Social Justice Social Media Sola Scriptura Spirit of Vatican II SSPX The Eucharist The Mass The Resurrection Traditionalism Vatican II Year of Mercy

Select a Month August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 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 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 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 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Eden" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Tree River Mountain Delight