Although the Catholic Church itself is exempt from the proposed regulations, Olmsted believes the federal government's decision is an attack on religious liberty. He is encouraging church members to actively oppose it.
Rob DeFrancesco, spokesman for the Phoenix Diocese, said that even though the diocese, its parishes and its schools will likely all be exempt from the rule, the bishop is concerned about "many other organizations," such as charities and hospitals, that are Catholic in belief but may not fall under the diocese's administrative umbrella.
the mandate will include exceptions for certain religious employers, such as churches and church-governing groups. …
Specifically, the rule would exempt religious groups that have religious education as their purpose, that "primarily employ" people who share the groups' religious tenets, that primarily serve those whose share the religious tenets, and that are non-profit organizations.
According to Catholic News Service, bishops in nine of the nation's 195 dioceses are preparing letters to be read at Masses on Sunday encouraging churchgoers to lobby against the measure
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