Obama Administration Tries New HHS Contraceptive Mandate Approach

The story is here.

Update: This appears to be no help to people who are unlucky enough not to be a church or one of it's affiliated organizations:

"The simple definition of “religious employer” for purposes of the exemption would follow a section of the Internal Revenue Code, and would primarily include churches, other houses of worship, and their affiliated organizations, as defined by Section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii)

This proposed change is intended to clarify that a house of worship would not be excluded from the exemption because, for example, it provides charitable social services to persons of different religious faiths or employs persons of different religious faiths. The Departments believe that this proposal would not expand the universe of employer plans that would qualify for the exemption beyond that which was intended in the 2012 final rules."

So it sounds like any employer who does not fit the above description (Hobby Lobby?) is still being coerced to act against their religious beliefs.

Update II: Yep, Steve Ertelt says that is the case:

"However, these revisions do not apply to privately-owned businesses that want to opt out. Hobby Lobby, the Christian craft company, was forced to alter its employee health insurance plan in order to avoid millions of dollars in fines each and every day it refuses to comply with the HHS mandate.

The new rules are already facing opposition from pro-life and religious groups.

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, told LifeNews: “We at Priests for Life remind the Administration that religious liberty does not just belong to religious groups and individuals; it belongs to all Americans...."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney