A top Roman Catholic bishop says the church will never comply with the Obama administration mandate to provide birth control coverage in health insurance.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan says the bishops are open to talking with federal officials. But Dolan says bishops will continue to challenge the requirement in legislatures and in court.
Dolan spoke Tuesday in Baltimore at a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Houses of worship are exempt from the birth control rule, but religiously affiliated hospitals and nonprofits aren’t. Dozens of Catholic dioceses and charities are suing over the mandate.
The Obama administration has offered an accommodation, but many religious leaders say that so far, it isn’t workable.
Separately, the bishops voted to shelve a statement on the economy. They couldn’t agree on wording.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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