The 2012 U.S. Conscience Debate

The standoff over federal conscience protections for employers, insurers and individuals has galvanized Catholics and other defenders of religious freedom. Under new health care regulations, coverage of contraception, abortifacient drugs and sterilization would be mandated — even over the moral objections of millions of Americans. An "accommodation" announced by President Barack Obama in February has been welcomed as a sign of acknowledgement of religious freedom concerns, but 1) it is inadequate, not least because it does not apply to the estimated 60 percent of American companies that self-insure, and 2) remains simply words until its details are drawn up and entered into the Federal Register. This is an issue that OSV Newsweekly is following closely.

Here in one convenient place are some of the stories and commentary we've devoted to it.

OSV Newsweekly

• Editorial: Defending conscience, 5/20/2012
• Time for our A game, 5/13/2012
• Bishops call on Catholics to 'muster energies' for freedom, 4/29/2012
• Something’s happening, 4/22/2012
• Catholic Americans and religious freedom, 4/15/2012
• Religious liberty advocates watch court case, 4/15/2012
• Faithful use prayer to battle HHS mandate, 4/8/2012
• How U.S. government got tied up with contraception, 4/1/2012
• Pastors preach against contraception from pulpit, 4/1/2012
• Bishops clash with magazine over mandate stance, 3/25/2012
• Editorial: Awaken consciences, 3/25/2012
• Teresa Tomeo: The ugly truth, 3/18/2012
• Editorial: Where are the women?, 3/11/2012
• Next steps in HHS mandate controversy, 3/4/2012
• Editorial: Catholic contributions, 3/4/2012
• Editorial: Divided we stand, 2/26/2012
• Irrelevant, but untrue that 98 percent use contraception, 2/26/2012
• Six things everyone should know about the HHS mandate, 2/19/2012
• Drawing a line in the sand on conscience, 2/12/2012
• Forcing Catholics to violate their consciences, 2/5/2012

OSV Daily Take Blog

• Religious liberty 101
• Cardinal Dolan in the 'No Spin Zone'
• 'Where are the women?' Right here.
• If it plays in Pennsylvania...
• Shaw: On contraception mandate, bishops' approach deserves praise
• Shaw: Why people don't like the Catholic Church
• Mandate would 'coerce' Sisters to betray vow
• MSNBC tackles Catholic moral teaching
• Bishops issue new statement on HHS changes
• Bishops respond to Obama announcement
• More required reading on HHS and conscience
• Shaw: The ball is in the bishops' court
• Winds of change on HHS mandate?
• Required reading on important topics
• Have you signed the petition against the HHS mandate yet?

The Priest

• More Evidence of Difficult Times Ahead, 4/1/2012
• Religious Liberty at Stake, 4/1/2012
• Religious Freedom, 2/1/2012

Additional Links and Resources

Twitter: Stop HHS
National Petition to Stop HHS


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