Archbishop Aymond issues statement on Obama's proposed "compromise"

Aymond: Obama move on birth control 'step in the right direction' .wwltv.com
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 4:14 PM

A statement from New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond on President Obama's announcement today regarding birth control services and religious organizations.

"As many of you are aware, Catholic bishops and Catholic laity as well as others of many Christian denominations and faiths expressed great disappointed in the January 20 announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services that would have required Catholic institutions and organizations provide abortion inducing drugs, sterilization procedures and birth control through their employee health plans. We believe this to be a direct violation of our religious liberty.

I remain cautiously optimistic, but President Obama’s proposed compromise announced today is at least a step in the right direction. This is a new opportunity to dialogue with the executive branch and to obtain details as it may be too soon to tell whether it provides any real improvement on core concerns. The US Catholic Bishops still believe that Congressional action is necessary to ensure commitment to religious liberty.

I ask all of you to join me as I continue to offer this issue up in prayer. Our country was founded on the principle of religious liberty, the right of people to practice and live out their faith in the public square. We as Catholics and all people of faith must not take that for granted and always work to ensure our First Amendment Right – freedom of religion – is protected."