Mitt Romney Slams Birth Control Decision Similar To One He Made In Massachusetts

The Mitt Romney campaign sharply criticized President Barack Obama's recent decision to require most religiously affiliated employers to offer their employees birth control coverage in an email to The New York Times Sunday, calling it a "direct attack on religious liberty." But in 2005, Romney made an almost identical decision as governor of Massachusetts.

Romney vetoed a bill that would require hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims, but the Massachusetts legislature overturned that veto. He then changed his position on the issue, denying Catholic and other private hospitals an exemption that would have allowed them to refuse to offer the pill to their patients.

Although Romney had already begun opposing abortion rights at that point and had written a Boston Globe op-ed arguing that he opposed the morning after pill because he believed it could cause abortions, he said his lawyers had advised him to scrap the old Massachusetts law that barred the state from forcing private hospitals to dispense contraception.

Now, the Obama administration has denied a similar religious exemption, requiring religious hospitals and universities to fully cover contraception costs for their employees, even if they morally object to contraception.

Andrea Saul, a spokesperson for Mitt Romney, commented on the decision in the email to the Times.

“This is a direct attack on religious liberty," she said "and will not stand in a Romney presidency."

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[MekhongKurt]

10:39 PM on 01/31/2012

If this another flip for Romney -- or another *flop*? I've lost track. Causing a FLAP, at any rate.

[HawaiiShira]

08:33 PM on 01/31/2012

Religion is one area you best stay clear of Willard. We remember the belief the Mormons held of Blacks worldwide until 1978. The church's stance on proxy baptisms of Jews and the fact that as a Bishop of the Mormon church, Willard admits having conducted proxy baptisms, although oes not admit to performing them for Jews, is an issue that must now be discussed.

[creep]

02:28 PM on 01/31/2012

How can any man tell a woman not to have birth controll. If they were laying on that bed in pain, we wouldn't have a population. That was the worst pain I experienced, I asked them to let me die. Men need to stay in their place and leave our vagina to women!!!

[Tsar Bomba]

01:07 PM on 01/31/2012

Freedom from religion is liberty

[97034Leftofcenter]

12:49 PM on 01/31/2012

Where was the Mormon church during his days as Gov? I'm surprised that they didn't kick him out. Oh wait......there is that 13 million dollars a year tithing, that covers a lot of "sins"

[nypapajoe]

10:52 AM on 01/31/2012

Romney don't speak about matters that doesnt have anything to do with the political and or economic situation at hand! You of all people best not discuss religion because the conservative religious right don't even consider you a Christian!

[sippewissett]

10:31 AM on 01/31/2012

So intent is Romney on acquiring the Right-wing vote that he will do ANYthing to appear to be as conservative (i.e., narrow-minded) as they are. Regrettably this is just another 'flip' for this 'flop.'

[pattiepcomedy]

10:14 AM on 01/31/2012

'Romney vetoed a bill that would require hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims'

Excuse me - doesn't that type of emergency contraception to rape victims prevent abortions? Amazing how illogical these Republican candidates are.

[sanevoter]

09:41 AM on 01/31/2012

This all started with no federal funding of abortions. This was (and is) an imposition of religious beliefs into public policy. Many people oppose the death penalty and/or war, but there is no exemption of tax funds from these activities. I respect most peoples anti-abortion feelings, but not when these feelings take away another persons rights. Good call on Obamas' part.

[exclintonsupporter]

09:08 AM on 01/31/2012

Does he even HEAR himself when he talks? Why all of the LIES Mitt…you say you are a Christian…but the Bible teaches us that “GOD HATES a LIAR --- They are an ABOMINATION to HIM”….

ABOMINATION Mitt…do you know what that means?

…OUTRAGE – DISGRACE – SCANDAL – ATROCITY – REPUGNANCE - DISLIKE…

…get it?????

OBAMA 2012!!!

[exclintonsupporter]

09:03 AM on 01/31/2012

He is just hurting himself…all of the money in the world is not going to erase his record…once he gets in the General Election…the Dems and Obama campaign are going to use his VERY words against him…what the President did for the Nation…Romney did for the state of Massachusetts…this and ROMNEYCARE!!!

OBAMA 2012!!!

[exclintonsupporter]

08:58 AM on 01/31/2012

This is NOT a direct attack on “religious liberty”. Saying what you can or can’t do in the confines of your place of worship…telling people how they can worship…is a direct attack on “religious liberty”…just because you are affiliated with a religious group…but you have a public organization, then you don’t have the right to say what laws that you will or will not abide to. It’s like how Rand and Ron Paul think that a public restaurant owner should have the right to say who they will or won’t serve in their place of business….YOU CAN’T DO THAT…unless your place of business is a private establishment…

ROMNEY knows NO other tactic except to LIE, LIE, LIE…TELL LIES about the President and his positions and his polices….

Yeah folks…that will make an AWESOME PRESIDENT….

NOT!!!

OBAMA 2012!!!

[exclintonsupporter]

08:48 AM on 01/31/2012

Just proving that he really doesn’t have any solutions for today’s problems…the only way he thinks that he can make a difference is by LYING on what the President has ACTUALLY done….

[Countess]

08:47 AM on 01/31/2012

These people want to turn American women into zombies who must follow the command of the mullahs of moronic religion that dominate their party and we must fight them at every turn.

[vonPinto]

08:38 AM on 01/31/2012

I hope Mitt Romney NEVER mentions RELIGION or even using it to attack Pres. Obama ...because he will soon realize that it will be BRUTALLY PAINFUL for him to withstand the attacks on his C ULTISH "religion".

[Aurical]

08:21 PM on 01/31/2012

After all this time the sheep STILL don't know how wonky they are.