# Did the Bishop lie to get my parents to vote GOP? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972 "2012-02-06T13:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/1 "2012-02-06T13:22:32Z")
My parents are in their 70’s, and really, really conservative Catholics. Last Sunday the priest read a letter to the congregation from the bishop. As my parents related it to me as they understood the message: Catholic hospitals are required by Federal law to perform abortions. The closest I could find was that Catholic healthcare organizations must offer its employees insurance coverage for birth control, vasectomies and tubal ligation. What’s the straight dope? And whatever it is, what’s the downside to rejecting it? Loss of Federal funding, or should the Bishop warn them that Waco-style armed invasion will be expected? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/2 "2012-02-06T13:54:19Z")
I know in Canada, hospitals were not required to perform abortions under the provincial Medicare plans. Many Catholic hospitals did not. In fact, IIRC one issue in the abortion debate way back when, was that many Atlantic province inhabitants (PEI? NB?) at one time had to travel long distances out of province to get abortions. I guess the question is, does a USA hospital HAVE to take federal funding? Is it possible (practical) to get by without it? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/3 "2012-02-06T14:52:39Z")
You can see the statement by [Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of health and human services](http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/01/20120120a.html). It says that an employer that offers its employees health care insurance cannot deny coverage for _contraception_ based on religious objections. Until now, certain non-profit employers, such as Catholic hospitals, were able to exclude coverage of contraceptives from their employee health care plans. > [@](#): > > … Today the department is announcing that the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA -approved forms of contraception. Women will not have to forego these services because of expensive co-pays or deductibles, or because an insurance plan doesn’t include contraceptive services. … Beginning August 1, 2012, most new and renewed health plans will be required to cover these services without cost sharing for women across the country. > > … Nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law. … > … > This rule will provide women with greater access to contraception by requiring coverage and by prohibiting cost sharing. In no way does it require Catholic hospitals to perform abortions, not even close. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/4 "2012-02-06T14:53:51Z")
The Bishop is wrong, or your parents misunderstood him. Catholic hospitals are not required to perform abortions. A new regulation now requires them to provide insurance coverage for birth control (i’m not sure about vasectomies/tubal ligation). It’s to be built into the institution’s health care policy. They also don’t have to cover abortions in their health care (though most policies don’t). Note that they don’t have to prescribe birth control pills, either. The point is that non-Catholic women should not be penalized. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/5 "2012-02-06T14:55:20Z")
It occurs to me that in a recent news article about abortions, theymentioned that only one clinic in South Dakota(?) performs abortions, with the doctor(s?) coming in from a neighbouring state. So unless there’s something different about your state or something special about the Dakotas - yes the bishop lied. Having been to a Catholic primary school, high school, and college this does not surprise me. I saw the samevitriol, innuendo and outright lies spewed by the anti-abortion crowd in Canada during our debate - many from the the church heirachy. It does not surprise me if some people will exaggerate or lie. So what? They’re human, that’s not God’s message, not even their God’s. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/6 "2012-02-06T14:59:44Z")
In which diocese do your parents live? It should not be difficult to look at the diocesan web page and find the current letter to find out what the bishop actually said. The change proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services is based on an interpretation that schools and hospitals are sufficiently removed from church oversite that they are not sheltered by the existing religious exemption. In other words, the local chancery or individual parish offices (and, probably, parish operated elementary and high schools), that offer insurance can still opt out of offering those benefits in their insurance contracts, but that hospitals and colleges, (and, possibly, independent high schools), that generally operate under their own charters, are not covered under the religious exemption. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/7 "2012-02-06T15:02:05Z")
Now, there is some question about the contraception coverage having to cover methods that prevent implantation after fertilization or even the ‘morning-after pill’. To many pro-lifers, that is akin to abortion in that it terminates an already-germinating life. As a 95% pro-lifer, I’m iffy about that view, but I think if you work for a Catholic non-ecclesial institution, you know the RCC’s rules & the Gov’t should not force a religiously-affiliated institution to violate its historically-respected convictions. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/8 "2012-02-06T15:03:51Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Now, there is some question about the contraception coverage having to cover methods that prevent implantation after fertilization or even the ‘morning-after pill’. To many pro-lifers, that is akin to abortion in that it terminates an already-germinating life. It still doesn’t require the hospital to “perform” this. It doesn’t have to prescribe or administer the pill. It merely can’t deny coverage if one of its employees chooses to use it as prescribed by her own health care provider. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/9 "2012-02-06T15:06:09Z")
There has also been contention about whether religiously-affiliated hospitals and clinics are required to refer people to somewhere that actually performs abortions if a patient asks for one (as opposed to sending them to one of those faux women’s health places that exist solely to talk people out of abortions). But they’re definitiely not required to actually perform them. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/10 "2012-02-06T15:12:37Z")
[found it.](http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2012/02/02/mandatedhealthplan/) No mention of abortion, (although my parents heard it in there. I guess there’s something to be said for the whole Protestant “read it for yourselves” angle) but if they did provide contraception it might prevent abortions and child abuse. Of course that’s not up for debate. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/11 "2012-02-06T16:16:47Z")
It honestly doesn’t surprise me that some Catholics actually conflate abortion and contraception. I remember some high ranking official (maybe the Pope himself) having to clarify that they were not the same level of sin. My comments on the letter would have to be made in Great Debates, but, let me say, I am not very impressed with the reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![kaltkalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kaltkalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaltkalt)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/12 "2012-02-06T19:44:16Z")
That church should lose its tax-exempt status for pulling that crap. You can be a religious institution and be tax-exempt or you can tell people how they should vote and pay taxes. Can’t have it both ways. Religions are businesses like any other, they shouldn’t be tax exempt from the outset, but insofar as they are, they’re required to avoid campaigning, etc. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/13 "2012-02-07T01:00:06Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > In which diocese do your parents live? It should not be difficult to look at the diocesan web page and find the current letter to find out what the bishop actually said. > > The change proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services is based on an interpretation that schools and hospitals are sufficiently removed from church oversite that they are not sheltered by the existing religious exemption. In other words, the local chancery or individual parish offices (and, probably, parish operated elementary and high schools), that offer insurance can still opt out of offering those benefits in their insurance contracts, but that hospitals and colleges, (and, possibly, independent high schools), that generally operate under their own charters, are not covered under the religious exemption. This seems to me to be the GQ solution. Did the bishop over state the case or your parents misunderstand? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/14 "2012-02-07T01:11:57Z")
> [@kaltkalt](#): > > That church should lose its tax-exempt status for pulling that crap. You can be a religious institution and be tax-exempt or you can tell people how they should vote and pay taxes. Can’t have it both ways. Religions are businesses like any other, they shouldn’t be tax exempt from the outset, but insofar as they are, they’re required to avoid campaigning, etc. 100% false. 501c3 organizations can tell you how to vote on any election ballot measure except for those that involve elected officials. If they’re not explicitly endorsing a specific candidate, they’re acting entirely within the law. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/15 "2012-02-07T02:18:44Z")
Also, you stray into interesting Great Debate territory. Why should the Catholic CHurch be special? If I declare myself Pope of the the First Church of The Holy Burger Flippers, can I give the church ownership of my business; so it refuse to follow the laws my church objects to - you know, the ones about overtime, minimum wage, child labour, discrimination in hiring and customers, paying taxes (you mean I’m not tax exempt?). It sounds stupid, but where does it end? IIRC, at one time the Moonies owned a fish-processing plant. SHould that be exempt? I remember my fellow students who went on to be teachers in the Catholic, provincially funded school system in Ontario. They were terrified they could be fired for using contracption, “living in sin”, even for getting married outside the church or not bringing their children up as Catholics. Many such rules even applied to protestant teachers… and this was for an obviously religious function, education, not a hospital - which in the USA is as much a business as a fish plant or a car plant. One of my fellow students in Unoiversity was strongly reprimanded for suggesting in the school paper that the college heirarchy was exploiting the older Italian and Portugese ladies’ love of the church by having them work for minimum wage doing housekeeping in the residences. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/16 "2012-02-07T02:40:41Z")
Am I mistaken, or isn’t a church’s tax exempt status shared by all non-profit organizations, and doesn’t apply if the church turns out actually to be a business? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/17 "2012-02-07T05:06:22Z")
Tax exemption is not at issue in this instance. The law regarding the purchase of health insurance by employers has an exemption for those services that are in conflict with the reliious tenets of the employing institutions. (This is well within U.S. law tradition: during Prohibition, under the Volstead Act, provision was made to permit wine used in religious rituals, (notably by Catholics, but also by Episcopalians and several other Protestant denominations and by Jews). The Obama Administration recently chose to interpret the religious exemption more narrowly than it had previously been governed. (I do not recall whether the change was prompted by other actions in Congress or simply a decision by the White House). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-bishop-lie-to-get-my-parents-to-vote-gop/611972/18 "2012-02-07T05:21:36Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Tax exemption is not at issue in this instance. I know. I was only responding to the previous post, which did make mention of it. I should have quoted it.