Responding to pressure from advocates including the Baptist Joint Committee, which called for a broader religious exemption to the contraception coverage mandate, the White House today announced a change in the rule that would shift the burden for supplying coverage from religious institutions to health insurers. 

The Baptist Joint Committee's Brent Walker reacted positively to the news:

“This is a positive step in protecting the right of religious institutions to define themselves and accommodate religious conscience,” Walker said.  “Leaving room for the healthcare needs of women – Catholic and non-Catholic alike -- to get the coverage they deserve is also important.

“Religious freedom is the first freedom and must be protected. At the same time we must be mindful of the health care needs of all employees. This is a win-win solution,” Walker said.

A win-win indeed. Kudos go out to Brent and other advocates including Melissa Rogers who saw the way to a solution, rather than just the makings of an intractable confrontation. I'm sure this won't make everyone completely happy, nor will it likely be problem-free to implement. But accommodations like this serve the principle of religious freedom well, while maintaining a commitment to other key policies like public health.

Now what?

With a policy that is now prepared to take into account religious objections to contraception coverage, it remains on religious organizations to use that accommodation fairly and honestly. This new rule is designed to honor religious objections, not to allow religious employers to cut costs at the expense of their employees' health for no religious purpose.