Catholics oppose Obama's contraception proposal

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - President Obama's new contraception proposal is being met with strong opposition by the region's Catholic bishops.

The plan to have insurance companies provide birth control for free to employees at Catholic run hospitals and institutions is not going to work.

Saint Francis Hospital, which is owned and operated by the Catholic Church, has hundreds of employees. Under the President's compromise the church would have to pay for health insurance plans that offer free contraception for those employees, so that the church wouldn't have to pay for those services directly.

On Monday Senator Dick Blumenthal praised the President's proposal.

"Only women who want the service will be provided it," said Blumenthal, "the institution will not be required to provide any services, so it is a respectful balance."

However, the Catholic Bishops do not see this as a solution at all and say it does not protect their religious liberty.

Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell is said to be involved in the discussions, but has so far been unwilling to go on camera. On Monday, his website posted the U.S. Conference of Bishops renewed call for legislative action on religious liberty. In that statement they re-affirm their support for healthcare for all and state that "pregnancy is not a disease."

They say the proposal is "unacceptable and must be corrected," that it raises "serious moral concerns," and renewed their call to "correct through other branches of government," meaning the congress and the courts.

It goes on to say that the government should exempt self-insuring religious employers and religious insurance companies from the mandate.