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Cardinal Wuerl on contraception mandate

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    Catholic institutions vs. Obama administration

  • Duration 9:38
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Some 43 Catholic organizations sued the government this week.

Seeking to overturn the mandate that many religious institutions must offer insurance to cover contraception.

Joining us now one of the church leaders behind that Africa cardinal Donald world archbishop of Washington and your eminence welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

Thank -- it's good to be back with you though White House makes several points countering your lawsuit let's take a look at -- -- they say almost 99%.

Of women including a lot of Catholic women use contraception.

As some point in their lives and many struggle to afford it.

So they call this a women's health -- they also -- the 28 states already require health insurance plans cover birth control your response.

This whole lawsuit.

Isn't about contraception.

It's about religious.

Freedom imbedded in the mandate.

Is of a radically new definition of what constitutes.

-- religious community what constitutes religious ministry.

Brand new never before -- at the federal level that's what we're arguing about.

The lawsuit -- We.

We have every right.

To serve in this community as we have served for decades and decades the new definition says you're not really religious.

If you serve people other than your -- And if you hire people hunters in -- Have wipes out all the things that we have been doing.

Although things that we contribute to the common good our schools.

Our health care services are Catholic Charities even parish.

Soup kitchens and pantries.

All that's -- -- but let me let me pick up on that because the White House uses the famous accommodation.

But President Obama that they had changed the mandate so that the insurance companies.

That you are dealing -- To provide health insurance coverage to your employees have to provide the birth control for free and that they.

Charity is that the schools the hospitals.

Don't have to do anything.

This is one of the reasons why we've been saying the accommodation.

Really didn't change anything because.

So many of our institution certainly the archdiocese.

-- self insured we are the ensure so when you say don't worry we've changed this so only the -- -- to pay.

And we -- sure there's no accommodation.

They're saying well over the next year we've we're taking public comment on this and we will.

Tweak that regulation so that that self insurers won't have to provide the birth control.

The last time the the government said we're gonna hear from you on this 200000.

Suggestions.

When -- and and not want to success.

What was in that.

The presentation before.

The request for suggestions was exactly.

What the administration reported out and by the way.

It's law.

It's -- right now.

All of this this conversation about well maybe we'll find a way around it that's conversation.

What's law right now is that that definition.

Is what we're going to have to do it and that's what -- gone into court because in the United States if there is an impasse on something -- fundamental.

As sure as you're right you're going to court and that way you scrape away all the politics.

I don't know if you've heard about this but if you happen I'll inform you what do you make of the fact that the broadcast.

Networks has spent a grand total of nineteen seconds this week.

-- evening newscasts nineteen seconds.

Covering the losses by the 43 Catholic organization what do you make of.

Well it is puzzling particularly since there -- they're focusing so much attention right now on the -- Butler.

It it seems to me is that if somehow they missed.

The vote.

And they've missed the story.

And that's why I think it's so important that we have a moment like this it is political bias on the part of the -- well I think.

We have to have.

We have to take a look at this in the much larger picture and certainly people have their own their own mindset when the economy and issue.

That's one of the reasons why we will continue just to say to our people key issue.

Is religious -- All right I want to pick up on that because as you well know there is they split.

Within.

The Catholic church on this issue thirteen.

Catholic diocese did file soup and that means more than -- 180 did not file suit and some of your fellow bishops especially in California are -- That this is a it seems to be part of a political campaign by some conservative leaders against President Obama.

I don't know where that is coming from because there was one bishop who was quoted.

He issued a statement saying he's totally supportive of all of this including the lawsuits so I don't know where that story is is coming from I know it's out there.

But again this is one of the reasons why it's important have a program like this.

Where we can speak to -- practically.

The people rather than have people you say that there is no split within the church on this if I have yet to see among the bishops -- -- at all.

And again the bishop who was quoted as saying he was concerned issued a statement saying that what was -- about him was not his position.

-- and asked for a how many guy he's actually going into into court I'm thinking.

You know when we had -- great decision of the Supreme Court that said you can't segregated public schools.

It was one case.

That didn't invalidate.

The the argument that it.

Segregation was wrong so would you say well there must be some division in the church because not every diocese has gone to court.

There are dioceses and institutions.

Universities hospitals all across the country.

Regarding the court.

The idea was to make -- representative.

Of the church in the United States.

It be physically impossible to get everybody's.

Into court at the same time.

Meanwhile Mitt Romney.

Came out this week for allowing federal funds to be used by low income parents to send their kids to any public school they want or even to some private schools and parochial schools.

You support that idea -- The idea that money should follow the child we all paid taxes we all pay taxes for education.

Why doesn't that money fault with the parents and keep it.

Further for example.

Here and we live in the District of Columbia.

If you are very wealthy or have a lot of -- support you can send your child to a very exclusive.

School but if you live in this city if you live in some of the poorest neighborhoods.

You don't get an option that's -- the Catholic churches there and that's what we have our schools in the Center City.

Saying we'll give you a chance to get a decent education.

And and we'll pay for it.

But wouldn't it be fair.

Wouldn't be asked when that you really on -- if every child.

Got a chance.

At a real true.

Academically excellent education and one way to do that is what the parents have actually.

Do you think mormons.

Are true Christians.

I never get -- defining other people I hate I define myself that's one of the reasons wired but -- -- -- wayward court.

I define myself I don't want the president to define me so I'm -- Finally and you were just say no all the attention being given to a but it is a story it is a -- stress I'm gonna ask you about the time we have left the pope's.

Butler.

Has been arrested for allegedly leaking.

Confidential documents including personal letters to the Pope to the news media and these documents seem to show cronyism.

And and corruption in the side.

The Vatican.

What would you tell concerned -- I wouldn't worry too much about what -- -- being in the newspapers.

About something that.

Media has reported in Italy about something that someone says he's going on.

I'm not really.

Altogether certain.

That the the -- access to supplement.

Some documents.

That he is.

Really the major concern of the church or should be a major concern people in the United States of America.

Today we have so many other issues one of them for example is we are going to be celebrating.

Memorial.

We're going to be turning our attention to to the moves.

Brave women who died.

In the defense.

Of this country.

Of its freedom of its constitution.

Have you -- -- -- us to carry on our way of life I think that's where focus should be.

Place this coming Memorial Day as we simply recognize who we are by the way that's one of the reasons we -- in court.

We're saying.

We're we're we're saying we've been told all along the reason.

We buried fly.

These brave men and women.

It's because they were defending our freedom and our constitution.

Well done cart.

Hit it fat thank you so much for joining us and it's always.

An honor to speak with user thank you to great -- to be with you Chris thank.

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