COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Nearly a week after President Obama revised his controversial contraception mandate, local organizations are voicing their thoughts and concerns on the issue.
The president now says religious universities, hospitals and other affiliated institutions will not have to pay for the actual coverage.
Instead, insurance companies will foot the bill.
Obama has received heavy backlash from critics, who have accused his administration of attacking American's religious freedoms.
"It was certainly disturbing to us that one of the ways you could get out of this requirement is to hire only Catholics, and restrict your services to only Catholics, and that is contrary to the way the church has operated since its very early days," Mark Rohlena said.
Rohlena is the President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, which employs about 40 people.
He said even if the promises of "accommodation" are fullfilled, religious institutions will still be forced to violate their beliefs.
"Not everyone realizes that some of the items that are covered in this mandate are abortion types of drugs," Rohlena said.
Equally concerning to Rohlena, and the Diocese of Colorado Springs, the apparent violation of First Amendment rights.
"As a country we very much value religious freedom, and regardless if you are Catholic or not, that principal needs to remain," he said.
But the local Planned Parenthood office said President Obama's contraceptive mandate should be viewed simply as a matter of health.
"We do see this as a decision that is a public health issue and a medical one, and not just about maternal health, but children's health," Planned Parenthood Spokesperson Monica McCafferty said.
McCafferty said the mandate is a "win" for women's health, and added it is important for all women to have access to contraceptives without a costly co-pay.
"Women, regardless of where they work, should have access to preventative care," McCafferty said. "That includes birth control."
When asked about the First Amendment, McCafferty said Planned Parenthood believes the President's "exemptions" account for religious freedoms.
"There is nothing in here that is forcing a woman to take birth control, or distribute it or dispense it," she said.
An official at Centura Health, the management company for Penrose-St .Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, said right now they are still analyzing the mandate. and it is premature to issue a position.
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