U.S. Bishops get support from Pope's U.S. Ambassador

Papal ambassador applauds U.S. bishops' fight with government

Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2012

By The Associated Press

 

The pope's ambassador to the United States is praising American bishops for confronting the government over religious freedom. Archbishop Carlo Vigano expressed full support for the bishops' efforts and repeated past words of encouragement from Pope Benedict XVI.

 

The Associated Press

 

Archbishop Carlo Vigano, the pope's ambassador to the United States, is praising American bishops for confronting the government over religious freedom. He is shown celebrating Mass at the Vatican in 2009.

Vigano spoke Wednesday at an Atlanta meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It's the bishops' first meeting since they filed a dozen lawsuits against a mandate from the administration of President Barack Obama that employee health insurance cover birth control. Obama has offered to soften the rule for religious employers, but bishops say that doesn't go far enough.

Critics say the lawsuits appear politically partisan, especially during a presidential election. The bishops say it's not about politics. They plan religious-freedom rallies for two weeks leading up to July 4.