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Kathleen Sebelius Lights This Candle.
Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's Health and Human Services Secretary, announces a radical new program that alots for broadened coverage for preventative care for women. By August 1, 2012, insurance carriers will be mandated to cover a wide range of preventative health care, including contraception measures such as the morning after pill. (read the ABC news artile) -
Potluck Cancelled: Protest instead.
In response to the healthcare measures, the Catholic church published a call to arms in church bulletins across the country. The bulletins directed church goers to a website where they could send an email in protest to the HHS. (read CNS news article) -
Contraceptive Confidential
U.S. Archbishop Timothy Dolan met privately with President Obama to discuss the new healthcare requirements among other things. Dolan expressed at a news conference on the 14th that he felt more at peace with the issue after the talk, convinced of the President's commitment to handling the issue with sensitivity. (read NYTimes article) -
U.S. Bishops:"Show us the $."
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) cried "discrimination!" when HHS rejected the USCCB bid for grant money for human trafficking programs. Even though the grant was alocated for non-profits providing food and clothing to victims, HHS decided to redirect the funds to organizations that provided "a full scope of services to trafficking victims," namely abortions and contraceptive measures. (read the ABC news article) -
Sebelious: "No Bubble-Gum-Birth-Control."
In a motion that enraged women voters, Kathleen Sebelius blocked an over-the-counter morning after pill from being sold in pharmacies. According to ABC news, Obama backed the decision requiring women under the age of 17 to get a prescription from a doctor, saying it was "common sense." -
Obama: "No Exceptions."
After a few rounds with USCCB Bishops, Obama announces that while churches will remain exempt, other non-profits with religious affiliation—schools, hospitals, etc.— will not be exempted from providing the preventative health measures to women under the new guidelines. (read ABC news article) -
Pelosi says, "Get on board."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic, takes her stand with the Obama administration. She says, "I think it was a very corageous decision that they made, and I support it." (see CNBC article) -
Obama: "Okay fine. Exceptions."
Following the maelstrom of controversy, Obama announces that religiously affiliated organizations will get an exeption after all. However, women in such organizations will be able to purchase coverage for the services in dispute directly from healthcare providers. (read NBC news article) -
Bishops say, "Not good enough."
U.S. Catholic Bishops reject Obama's concessions because, in their estimation, the revision doesn't offer a way out for employers who personally oppose birth control, but who are not religious institutions. A 2012 election showdown—the kind that Obama is obviously trying to avoid— appears inevitable. (read Reuters article)
