Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski Not Happy with Obama's Contraception Compromise

By Kyle Munzenrieder Fri., Feb. 10 2012 at 1:41 PM

Caving to demands voiced by Senator Marco Rubio, Catholic leaders and others, President Obama today announced a compromise on a portion of his health care reform laws that would have required all employers to offer female employees free birth control even if the employer had religious objections. Miami Archbishop Thoman Wenski doesn't appear to be too pleased with the new plan.

The compromise would still ensure free birth control for all woman, but employers who object would not have to pay for the services directly. In those cases the insurer would have to reach out to woman and offer them the coverage.

Rubio has been one of the leading voices criticizing Obama on the rule.

"The federal government does not have the power to force religious organizations to pay for things that that organization thinks is wrong," Rubio said yesterday at CPAC.

Florida's other senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, ever the moderate, aligned his position with Rubio's.

Though they weren't the only Florida voices criticizing the rule, and Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski isn't exactly pleased with the new compromise.

"I think he's punting, just kicking the can down the road," Wenski told CNN. "He's hasn't really addressed our concerns. I think the only thing to do is... to take back the whole thing."

"They're missing the point when they say this is about contraception," he continued. "This is about religious freedom. It's a sham to say contraception aren't widely available in this country."

Despite the Catholic Church's opposition to birth control, 98 percent of Catholic women in America have reported using contraceptives.

Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.

Tags:

Barack Obama, Health care reform, Marco Rubio, Thomas Wenski

We Recommend

Child molesters

Wenski and the other businessmen who run the Catholic Church do it to make money, reach more customers and to find more children for Priests to molest. Why do these slugs get a tax exemption?

They molest children and they killed majestic 100 year old oaks on NE 2nd Avenue.

Loliviadiaz67677

Church has to follow law like everyone else, they have to pay a minimum wage, follow building code, etc.

Be logical, there are some religious that beleive an adultress should be stoned, so should there be religious freedom for that too?

Drake Mallard

If Church wants to engage in politics they should lose the tax exemption they now enjoy.

The whole concept of "churches being tax exempt" is ridiculous, they're money making organizations and should be taxed as such.

Rev. Chris Ward

CPAC 2012 2-10-12 Keep on talking Conservatives, give the monkey’s enough rope they’re going to hang themselves… Every year I think the Conservatives couldn’t do, say or act any worse than the year before. Attack on Religion? Are you people kidding me? What does Conservatives know about GOD and what have you done for this country?

I don’t care what anyone says, these Republicans of 2012 are f***’n insane. They suffer from severe superiority complexes, odd paranoia, religious delusions, racist attitudes and low, LOW grade thought processes!

Why would ANY responsible journalist take anything Conservatives say seriously? Just look at how your spokespersons are representing you Mr & Mrs Republican voter. Has anyone really listened to what they’re saying? Doesn’t anyone think it matters the likes of Ann Coulter (and 100’s like her) insults a majority of the population on a daily basis? An American majority that is already very, VERY angry at Conservatives for the Bush/Cheney catastrophe…

I think the limit has been reached. You right-wing losers have threatened my Progressive belief system for 30 years now and IT’S WAY PAST TIME TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATIONS! Just wait an see what happens this American Spring… You Conservatives GOT A BIG SURPRISE COMING! I am somebody who fights back jinnbad.blogspot.com

IF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH TAKES UP WITH REPUBLICANS THEY’RE FINISHED because of such poor judgment:“In the year of our LORD 2000, The GOP took on the seal of the upside down pentagram, better known as the sign of Satan. RECOGNIZE what the Republican Party has become since.

Wealthy, power-mad individuals who have no shame, feel no guilt, possess no conscience or capacity for empathy. Evil beings who use everything from the Bible to Darwin to justify their own vain, self-serving, power mad, evil existence. Knowledge as a weapon , a tool to CONTROL the masses who, in their minds, couldn’t possibly understand. “Morality - it was created for the common man. The higher man doesn’t worry about whether something is good or evil. He has the courage to rise above that sort of nonsense and ACT.” NIETZSCHE(balls, big ****’n heavos man… and 15 billion tons of TNT)Since human beings are doing the right or wrong, once and for all we must set the standards of what is good and what is evil. WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG! Reality NOW, from the Almighty GOD to Allah to Buddha to Jesus to Zoroaster there are common basic principles needed to judge your fellow human being: Seven Virtues - justice, temperance (moderation), courage, wisdom, faith, hope and love (charity). Seven Sins - pride, envy (malice), wrath, lechery, gluttony, avarice (greed) and sloth. …Anything beyond these is whiny excuse, spin, ignorance, disinformation, propaganda, hiding behind high priced attorneys and the worst kind of BS…”

“Did ya hear the one about the Mormon who became President so he could blow up the planet?” Anonymous

Wenski kills oaks

This Wenski dude is sleazy. He and a bunch of his Haitian customers are killing 100 year old oak trees an NE 2nd Avenue and NE 62nd Street. Haitians kill every tree they can but Wenski is doing it to take in more money.

Sleazy dude.

fred

Planned Parenthood is a great place to get birth control when your healthcare plan doesn't cover it, or if you don't have healthcare or a high deductible. I have already introduced Planned Parenthood to my girls as teenagers. It has always been a great place for women to turn to when they can't afford women's healthcare elsewhere. They even lent us a carseat to get our newborn home from the hospital!

Now that's irony, a person going to PP because their religious employer objects to paying for birth control.

Natalie

I have a question for the "archbishop": Does the Obama plan also mandate the use of condoms by priests sodomizing little boys?

Bandbhill

Cute! How long did it take you to think that up? Can you liberals ever stay on subject?

Sanchez

How's the compromise caving in? It ensures women get access to contraception, nullifies the religious freedom counterargument and shows that the employer-provided health insurance model is flawed. From Obama's position, this is a winner.