Even the politically savvy Obama Administration seems to have miscalculated the risks of threatening religious liberty as tempers flare over its decision to allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to give religious employers a mere one-year extension before forcing them to comply with a mandate to provide coverage for practices that violate their conscience rights.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops, said the extension on coming into compliance with a rule to provide contraceptive, abortifacient and sterilization coverage in all health care plans was the equivalent of the president “saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences.” He has vowed to fight the mandate in court.

“The inalienable rights guaranteed in our country’s founding documents are being trampled,” lamented Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit. “Where is the ‘liberty’ in a decision to intrude on freedom of conscience? The Constitution speaks of ‘freedom of religion,’ not ‘freedom from religion’.”

The archbishop called upon lawmakers to defend the rights of citizens against a “truly unconscionable” government mandate.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Fla., has intimated the need for “civil disobedience” and said he would drop insurance coverage for diocesan workers rather than comply with the ruling.

Similar discontent has been expressed by Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities which employs 70,000 people.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue said the “dictatorial edict” issued by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during an election year indicates both contempt for the First Amendment and plain stupidity.

“With stunning magnanimity, Sebelius tells Catholic non-profits that they can take advantage of their one-year reprieve as long as they seek the blessings of the federal government. If they pass muster with the bureaucrats, then they have time to figure out how they can prostitute their religiously ground convictions, or prepare for bankruptcy. To top things off, after shoving the radical secular agenda down the throat of Catholics—and other people of faith who share their concerns—Sebelius congratulates the Obama administration for striking a ‘balance’ between religious liberty and Obamacare. But, of course, no balance was struck: the edict grants nothing to those who believe in religious liberty, and she knows it.”

University of Notre Dame president Fr. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., told the Catholic News Agency that he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision, saying it will place many religious organizations in “an untenable position.”

“This unnecessary intervention by the government into religion disregards our nation’s commitment to the rights of conscience and the longstanding work of religious groups to help build a more compassionate society and vibrant democracy. I find that profoundly troubling on many levels.”

Fr. Jenkins went on to call for a national dialogue among religious groups, government officials and the American people to “reaffirm our country’s historic respect for freedom of conscience and defense of religious liberty.”

The move has already cost the president some votes.

According to Donohue, Michael Sean Winters at the liberal National Catholic Reporter was highly critical of the HHS mandate, going so far as to say Obama “lost my vote” as a result of the decision.

Part of the administration’s miscalculation is neglecting to realize that “Many of those who tend to side with abortion-rights advocates also hold to the very American principle of respecting conscience rights,” Donohue explains. “When these issues collide, the latter proves decisive.”

“The Obama administration made a fatal flaw when it assumed that most people are not going to get worked up about healthcare plans that carry contraceptive coverage. If the plans were voluntarily adopted, the administration would be right. But the difference in this instance is that this service is being mandated by the federal government, allowing no exceptions for those who in good conscience cannot go along; the inclusion of abortifacients in the policy only deepens the problem.”

He adds: “There is a high price paid for arrogance in politics. Stay tuned—this issue isn’t going to go away.”

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