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<\/a>Regarding the HHS Mandate, Rachel Zoll reports from Baltimore,<\/p>\n
A top American bishop said Tuesday the Roman Catholic church will not comply with the Obama administration requirement that most employers provide health insurance covering birth control.<\/p>\n
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said church leaders are open to working toward a resolution with federal officials, but will meanwhile press ahead with challenges to the mandate in legislatures and in court.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing we\u2019re certainly not prepared to do is give in. We\u2019re not violating our consciences,\u201d Dolan told reporters at a national bishops\u2019 meeting. \u201cI would say no door is closed except for the door to capitulation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Zoll notes that some are calling for the President to take note of this stance and be open to dialogue on a way forward with the Church,<\/p>\n
The Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, said the administration should compromise. Although liberal-leaning Catholics disagree with the bishops on gay marriage and other issues, these same Catholics would oppose anything that threatened the church\u2019s social service work with the poor, war refugees and other disadvantaged people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a situation where being a gracious victor is not only the right thing to do, it makes good political sense,\u201d Reese said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n