Pope visits US nuns involved in Obamacare contraception lawsuit

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday made an unscheduled visit to the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, which is near the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where he celebrated the Mass of Canonization of St. Junipero Serra.

The Obama administration has provided an accommodation for religious objectors, allowing them to send notice of their opposition, which would trigger a requirement for insurers to provide the coverage instead.

Pope Francis greets Sister Marie Mathilde, 102, of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C., September 23.

The nuns had sued under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act over the birth control provision of the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act, widely known as Obamacare. The “compromise” is fine if you don’t mind compromising your principles.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the Sisters’ challenge, but also put a hold on the ruling to give them time to prepare a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The Holy Father spoke to each of us individually, from the youngest postulant to our centenarian, and then he spoke to all us about the importance of our ministry to the elderly”, said Sister Constance Veit.

Pope Francis’s schedule was tight for the day.

During his speech on the White House lawn, Pope Francis said the right of religious liberty was the key component to American democracy and “one of America’s most precious possessions”.

But the Little Sisters of the Poor argued that the waiver itself crosses the nuns’ moral boundary by endorsing contraceptives and by giving control of their healthcare program to the government. “It’s a freedom to serve others in a way that does not contradict our consciences”.

The sisters say they will be glued to the TV screens for the rest of the week to make sure they don’t miss any of the coverage.

According to Reuters, the Little Sisters operate more than two dozen “homes” nationwide.

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he appreciated the papal visit and the support Pope Francis offered.