USCCB alleges inaccuracy of facts in recent Veep debate

U.S. bishops release statement over factual inaccuracies regarding HHS mandate

The USCCB responded Oct. 12 to an alleged factual inaccuracy
promulgated by one of the debaters at the recent vice-presidential
 debate in the U.S.

The recent vice-presidential debate had fact checkers scrambling for their computers faster than ever. That's because both candidates denied much of what the other claimed. Both Joe Biden and Paul Ryan, practicing Catholics, debated policy, prices, and profits and disagreed on many points.

Now the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has weighed in, citing an alleged untruth that was spoked at the debate. The bishops do not name the speaker, but it seems to be present V.P. Joe Biden.

The bishops, led my Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, wrote:

"Last night, the following statement was made during the vice-presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees:

"With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact."

This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain "religious employers." That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to "Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital," or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.

HHS has proposed an additional "accommodation" for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as "non-exempt." That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation "to pay for contraception" and "to be a vehicle to get contraception." They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients. They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.

USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate.

For more details, please see USCCB's regulatory comments filed on May 15 regarding the proposed "accommodation": www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/rulemaking/upload/comments-on-advance-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-on-preventive-services-12-05-15.pdf

Cardinal Timothy Dolan is president of the USCCB.

The letter is found on the USCCB's website.