Obama Brags About Contraception Mandate Catholic Bishops Call 'Unjust and Illegal''

(CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama on Friday issued a proclamation declaring May 12-18 as National Women’s Health Week, and praising the Obamacare "preventive services" mandate that the Catholic bishops of the United States have unanimously declared and "unjust and illegal mandate" because it forces Catholics to act against their faith by purchasing health-care plans that cover sterilizations, contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs. Dozens of Catholic and Evangelical Christian organizations and business owners have sued the administration arguing that the regulation violates their free exercise of religion.

“Three years ago, I signed the Affordable Care Act--reform that brought about a new era of equality in health care and gave women unprecedented control over their health,” Obama said in the proclamation. “Under the law, women will no longer face higher insurance premiums because of their gender. It will be illegal for insurers to deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions like pregnancy or cancer.

“Already, 47 million women have gained access to preventive services at no out-of-pocket cost, including well-woman visits, domestic violence screenings and counseling, and contraceptive care,” Obama continued.

Numerous religious institutions, non-profits and businesses are suing to block the mandate by the Department of Health and Human Services, arguing that it violates the First Amendment guarantee of free practice of religion.

The proclamation continued, “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, working mothers no longer have to choose between getting essential care and paying their bills. Women no longer have to delay mammograms just because money is tight. And young people can stay on their parent's health insurance until age 26, so they no longer have to worry about how to afford health care when they are just starting out.”