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Rev. Katherine Ragsdale on the mandate some feel was good public policy regardless of whether it violated the teachings of the Catholic church
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President Obama announces a shift and has mandated contraceptive plan.
Saying that religious affiliated institutions will not be required to pay for those services instead.
Insurance companies -- off for the care free of charge.
I've been confident from the start that we could work out with sensible approach you just as I promise.
I understand some folks in Washington may want to treat this as another political wedge issue.
But it shouldn't be.
I certainly never saw that way.
This is an issue where people of goodwill on both sides of the debate.
Have been sorting through some very complicated questions to find a solution that works for everyone.
With today's announcement we've done that.
Religious liberty will be protected.
And a law that requires free preventive care will not discriminate against women.
Now some religious leaders continue to believe that the mandate was good public policy regardless of whether it violated the teachings of the Catholic Church.
And joining us now from Boston.
Is the reverend -- -- dale who is -- president and dean of the episcopal divinity school in Cambridge Massachusetts and she joins us now.
Reverend rags -- tell us about your reaction when you first heard what President Obama said to that.
Well actually I -- I was off quite pleased.
And impressed he.
He has still and relieved -- relieved frankly he has still a plan to ensure that every American woman has access to contraceptive health care if and when she needs it.
He's managed to do it in a way that has won the applause of both the Catholic health association and Planned Parenthood.
So what could be bad I'm not again very pleased and very impressed and he's managed this compromise.
Now the Catholic bishops' conference US conference -- Catholic bishops said basically they're gonna look at the details and that there is perhaps more hope than that was yesterday.
But they've clearly not given -- their imprimatur of approval.
And I guess my question EU would be not Revver -- stale.
The religious conscience of those employers who might not be affiliated with a religious institution like -- Catholic hospital.
But who nevertheless themselves have their own moral qualms and reservations about paying for.
Insurance that provides this coverage why does there -- religious liberty not come -- apply.
I think the issue is the religious liberty of the people who need this health care.
It's perfectly fine for the Roman Catholic church and others who agree with them that contraception is is wrong it's perfectly fine for them to believe that.
That ought to be supported that they have every right to teach that.
They have every right to bring to bear their considerable moral suasion to persuade people to follow their teaching what they don't have the right to do was to cross the line from.
Persuasion to coercion by denying people the option.
To not only grown she's a model.
To save it -- in the Catholic.
Institution would coerced one man.
I guess not to get these services or prevent them from getting these services is a complete -- to mischaracterization.
And fact that Catholic hospitals -- I got a universities while -- -- would it would simply not pay for these services or pay for insurance that pays them.
Nothing stopping a woman who even calls herself a Catholic from going into a Planned Parenthood clinic or from going into university health center and getting these contraceptive pills or sterilization or or morning after felt.
And then -- them.
Right -- -- so who's preventing the women from getting this this quote preventative treatment.
Stopping women from being able to access that treatment through their health care does in -- deny them the option presents prevents them from exercising that option.
I don't want the next found bravado and I can't remember it doesn't get -- -- -- when he is out.
But it doesn't prevent that is about is getting the services -- what prevents them from going Mandela a community health care clinic and getting -- -- -- 1777.
Prescription not thing.
Except that I have to pay out -- get verses violating the conscience of the employer.
Yes so if you can afford it you can have access to full health care if you can't afford it too bad for you.
Health insurance ought to cover all basic health insurance needs.
And you're right and you -- you weren't -- while the original your favor of the original.
You get from HHS or you're not you're one of -- number of clergy.
Who signed -- this saying that this was exactly what women needed for quote preventative care.
Absolutely the original regulation.
It's already allowed an exemption from over 300000.
Churches and houses of worship.
In this country they already could opt out what it didn't allow.
Our institutions such as hospitals and school -- which receive federal funding to opt out I'm not really in favor of having my tax dollars used to promote.
A religious principle that my church -- disagreed with for decades.
Nearly a century as matter of fact.
But in new -- you actually have given speeches in the past.
And then is an issue that a lot lot of people think is involved here and it will be down the road.
Com on abortion and you said in the past that you believe abortion.
Is a -- -- can be a blessing.
You leave it referred to late term abortion as a quote blessing in a speech in 2007.
I I read this this paragraph of something think Agassi said in a speech.
And I was quite stunned by that and I guess my question you -- if it should pay for sterilization in the morning after pill.
Why shouldn't insurance also be compelled to pay for abortion services free of charge -- that.
That's an entirely different issue what the president has managed here is a compromise that allows women access to contraception which will reduce the need for abortion and I think we all can agree.
That the fewer abortions -- the better off we all are.
Right but of anti abortion the -- why don't we need fewer abortions.
Well the same reason heart transplants -- a blessing that we prefer not to have people need them.
Delay right about portions.
Take place to save women's lives it would be wonderful if you're women needed that space still stand by your statement that abortions are black -- When you need them -- cardiac surgery when you need it -- I prefer never to need it.
So late.
A sick part is the same as that beating up part in a child's.
Yeah we could spend a lot of time debating that I think you're completely passing the mark.
What I did you think the conduit for print it out that's not what's on the table to that but -- I prefer that that abortions covered under this under this mandate as well I mean that's not sacred right.
I am delighted at what he's been able to accomplish and I'm perfectly happy to to applaud that.
I appreciate it -- thanks so much for.
