U.S. bishops are not trying to decide the election

Archbishop Lori says the U.S. Catholic Church is trying to defend fundamental freedoms not favour presidential candidates

Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Freedom, says the Church's challenge to the federal government's contraceptive mandate is not an attempt to sway the upcoming presidential election in favour of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (left) or President Barack Obama. Shannon Stapleton and Jason Reed / CNS.

Contrary to some the Catholic Church in the U.S. is non-partisan. She defends fundamental freedoms no matter which party is running the country. Dennis Sadowski of Catholic News Service explains:

The U.S. Catholic Church's challenges to the federal government's contraceptive mandate under the health care law is not an attempt to "throw" the presidential election in favor of one candidate or against another, said the chairman of the bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Freedom.

Speaking with members of the Catholic Press Association in a conference call June 6, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said the bishops' campaign emerged because of the federal government's attempt to force religious organizations to pay for health services that violate fundamental religious principles.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.