Even some liberal pundits, E.J. Dionne and Mark Shields, for example, are against this new rule that requires employers (including Catholic universities and hospitals) to provide insurance for contraceptives. But I can't figure out what the beef is. The rule exempts churches.
I'm thinking it's more of a way for the Catholic Church, which has aligned with Newt (who turned Catholic in 2009), to attack Obama, as opposed to a concern for religious freedom. Most Catholics I know of use birth control. Religious institutions these days seem far more intrusive in our lives than government. That's evident in conservative politics that would like to take us back 50 years.
Democratic strategists point to statistics showing widespread approval of birth control among Catholic voters, suggesting a gulf between clergy and parishioners. Catholic doctrine opposes birth control, but surveys show many Catholics use contraceptives. The new rule stems from the 2010 healthcare law, which requires employers to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives to patients who want them. Churches and other houses of worship are exempt, but Catholic hospitals and universities are not. Bishops call the rule an affront to religious freedom. The rule doesn't force doctors who object to contraception to prescribe it. LA Times
