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Will Catholic institutions close over contraceptive mandate?

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    Peter Johnson, Jr. weighs in

  • Duration 3:28
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Meanwhile -- new USA today Gallup poll shows 72% of Americans believe the Obama administration's contraceptive mandate is unconstitutional.

And it's not just Republican 70% of independents and 56% of Democrats also believe it it's unfair.

Now leading Catholic leader says the mandate could mean -- end of Catholic universities and hospitals as well.

Here to weigh in its Fox News legal analyst writer John did you want everybody has to support.

You know Cardinal Francis George of Chicago.

As Nelson were -- we'd rather fight than switch.

Meaning that these Catholic institutions.

May in fact have to close down.

As a matter of conscience he said we have four choices.

We can secular -- We can sell the institutions right to others.

What we can close them because we would rather close them.

Then violate our religious tenets we'd rather close and then participate in a violation of the constitution.

And so again the Catholic Church is speaking out in a very forthright way about this constitutional issues.

You know I -- for decades.

The Catholic Church in this country has provided for people who don't have things -- you know you're orphanages hospitals universities.

But this is about principle and if if if you have a choice break.

What you believe in or close.

It's going to be a hard choice I think -- -- I cannot foreclose I think it's an easy choice for them because I think his steadfast in their beliefs and you know you're right.

The social welfare -- in this country.

Has been sustained by.

In a religious institutions.

Protestant welfare agencies -- Catholic hospitals and social service.

Jewish organizations.

For the past century and -- part and parcel of our American fabric.

The Catholic churches saying listen don't try and divide and conquer us don't make these phony arguments that.

Most people don't use contraception.

It's not about contraception it's not a referendum that whether contraception.

Is good or bad it's whether the constitution.

Right is good or bad it's whether the government should respect people's ability to worship in a way that they want.

And work respect the ability of voluntary association this is what we choose Catholics say -- Respect that should.

I -- -- differences I read on a conservative blog last night -- this could be the intent of the Obama administration they just want the Catholic institutions closed I read the same thing in -- read the commentary hundreds of people that right into these blogs they say.

Yeah that's the point of what's going on.

I don't know what the point is what's going on I hope -- it's not not something so insidious we do know that seven different states.

And certain -- insurance companies have now filed suit.

To stop this to say listen but don't violate the constitution.

Respect conscience and respect the ability of institutions like the Catholic church and its hospitals.

And it's universities and social service agencies.

To practice their religion in a way that has fidelity to their beliefs and -- fidelity.

To the constitution this is not going away.

The bishops are ramping up -- they're saying we're staking out our position and if we have to close these institutions we will we don't want to.

But if you push -- to violate their conscience and our religious tenants we will.

Peter Johnson junior thank you very much sad commentary it is indeed tough hand.

Let's see what happens --

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