President Barack Obama’s former director of faith outreach has said that he “strongly disagreed” with the administration’s 2012 plan to introduce a healthcare mandate requiring all employers to provide birth control coverage including contraception and the “morning-after pill”.
Michael Wear, an evangelical Christian who worked on Mr Obama’s 2008 and 2012 election campaigns, also confirmed reports that the White House was divided on the issue, with Joe Biden, the Vice-President, and his chief of staff William Daley among those reportedly opposed.
In an interview with The Tablet, Mr Wear said the planned legislation failed to show adequate respect for religious freedom. “I will say there were some really serious disagreements internally at the White House about the mandate, especially on how it was initially approached,” he said. “I didn't think it showed the appropriate deference to religious communities; I don't think it showed proper enthusiasm behind finding the kind of accommodation that historically has been a very important part of how America has navigated the relationship between faith groups and the state.”
The mandate was initially announced in January 2012 by the Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius. But after a furious reaction from Catholic groups, a compromise “opt-out” was proposed by Mr Obama the following month, in which insurers would pay for birth control instead of Catholic institutions such as colleges, charities and hospitals. However, the Church has continued to oppose the plan, with lawyers for the Archdiocese of Washington refusing to accept the revised version at an appeals court hearing earlier this month.
Bishops in the US argue the proposed law defies the constitution's commitment to religious freedom. The first amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Asked whether the opt-out will be enough to satisfy Catholic groups, Mr Wear said: “Where we are now is a better place, but it is important that the Administration continue its work with religious communities and find ways to ensure our nation’s commitment to religious freedom is protected.”
Mr Wear was speaking during a visit to the UK hosted by St Mary’s University in Twickenham and the Cathedral Innovation Centre.
You can read the full interview in this week's Tablet. Subscribers can read it here.
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