Catholics arriving for 5:30 p.m. confession and 6:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul expressed outrage and feelings of betrayal directed at the White House. The dispute risks alienating observant Catholics in an election year for the president.
"This has broad implications not just for Catholics, but for evangelicals, Orthodox Jews," said Christopher Jungers, a member of St. John the Evangelist parish in Center City.
"The downfall is going to be that organizations say, 'We aren't going to provide health care to our employees,' " he said.
A firestorm was touched off Jan. 20 when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that, under Obama's new health-care law, most employers and insurance plans would have to cover birth control free of charge as a preventive service for women.
The administration had already ruled that churches and houses of worship do not have to follow that requirement, but officials newly announced that many religious-affiliated institutions, such as hospitals, colleges, and charities, must comply.
Nonprofit groups that do not now provide contraceptive coverage because of religious beliefs would get a year to comply with the directive.
"This is not merely inadequate. It is dangerous," said Chaput. "And it betrays the good faith of many Catholics who - until now - have supported the current administration with an honest will."
He urged Catholics to contact their representatives and senators in Washington.
"Your action on this issue matters - not just today but for many years to come; and in ways that will shape the ability of the Church to witness the Gospel publicly through her ministries well into the future," he said.
