Does health care mandate violate religious freedom?

This transcript is automatically generated

Contraception mandate in the Health Care Reform law was not intended to a bridge religious freedom.

But large numbers of Catholics and others see the rule is doing exactly that.

And chief Washington correspondent James Rosen reports now the armed forces are involved.

-- -- -- good evening despite some reporting elsewhere late tonight that the Obama administration has blinked and is reversing itself in this case.

What -- sources tell Fox News all women will receive access to contraceptive services.

But that the year long timetable for implementation.

Could see this rule tweaked around the margins.

Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ that's how archbishop Timothy -- Leo head of the archdiocese for military services USA.

Began the letter he wrote on January 26 and intended to be read to all US military personnel at Sunday -- -- worldwide.

Here.

Yeah right yeah.

The focus is last month's ruling by health and human services secretary Kathleen Sebelius which mandated as part of president Obama's health care law.

But the cost of female contraception will be fully covered in all employers health plans even at Catholic affiliated schools hospitals and charities.

Where that would violate church doctrine at mid afternoon the White House was asked -- the president's position remains no reconsideration.

It does the the president is committed to making sure that.

All women.

Have access to these and important preventive services decrying this severe assault on religious liberty archbishop polio wrote to service personnel quote it is a blow to a freedom that you have fought to defend and for which you have seen your buddies -- -- battle.

We cannot we will not comply with this unjust law.

But none of the nearly 300000.

Catholics currently on active duty roughly 20% of our armed forces heard the archbishop's plea is written.

That's because army chief of chaplains Donald Rutherford intervened.

Pentagon sources told Fox News the chaplain feared the archbishop was actively urging military men and women to break the law.

Army secretary John McHugh ultimately decided the archbishop's letter was not a matter for military review but -- Leo voluntarily remove the line about non compliance with the law.

A former army intelligence officer Tony -- served two tours in Afghanistan.

Clearly the army's job is to be a military organization.

Not be in the middle of a social.

Values conflict.

The army told Fox News the chaplain Rutherford himself a Catholic priest never intended to render judgment on arch -- should -- -- opposition to the HHS ruling.

And that the army never intended to censor the clergy still -- wall on this issue is vice president Joseph Biden the nation's first Catholic vice president.

Mr.

Biden's aides have not responded to our questions over the last two weeks.

His next public appearances on Thursday at a convention of newspaper reporters and editors in Ohio the swing state where Brett Catholics make up nearly a quarter of the electorate.

This is not going away James thank you.

A top official.

Watch Live

Does health care mandate violate religious freedom?

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Okla. Gov. Fallin: We're strong and we'll rebuild

House of Scandals: Where was Obama?

Tea Party group sues IRS for political profiling

State Dept. official says he was 'scapegoat' for Benghazi

Gutfeld: Media still cast Tea Party as villains, not victims

Sen. Paul: 'Someone has to be fired' over IRS scandal

Search, rescue efforts still underway at tornado-hit school

Survivor: Family will 'stay together and just rebuild'

Scandals affecting public opinion of Obama administration?

Oklahoma: How you can help rescue teams on the ground

First responders raise flag after devastating tornado

Moore, Oklahoma resident: 'God, protect me. Protect me'

Transcript

Recommended