What's it all about?
It must be my aging process because I just can't see this as a religious freedom issue.
First, several Catholic hospitals and Catholic universities already comply with federal law in respect to the health insurance offered their staff members. If that were against the tenets of the Catholic faith, then why did the Church allow it? In those Catholic institutions, how can this possibly be a religious freedom issue?
Also, in Catholic hospitals whose health insurance plans do not comply with federal law contraception is provided to patients who have either private insurance or group insurance plans covering those medical treatments. If this were a religious issue, why are those patients given such medical treatment? Also, the patients have access to medications that are denied the health practioners responsible for their health care. That makes no sense.
Furthermore, is a hospital a church? Government does not - and cannot by law - provide funds for churches. Any institution - hospitals, schools, and universities included - that accept government funds and payments are by definition not churches. Any that accept government funds must comply with federal law. Again, I don't understand why this is a religious freedom issue.
Finally, it's humorous to me that some groups - secular and religious - are using this dispute between the U.S. Catholic Bishops and the President for their own agendas. And some of these groups have stated from time to time that Catholics are going to hell. Well, I may indeed end up in hell but I really don't think it would be due to my Catholic faith.