Kaine Seeks Broader Religious Exemption In Birth Control Mandate

Former Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) lined up behind many of his fellow Catholics, condemning the Obama administration's new policy to force religious institutions to offer contraceptives to its employees, the Washington Post reported this week.

In a recorded radio interview for the "HearSay with Cathy Lewis" program on WHRV in Hampton Roads, Va., Kaine said he disagreed with the policy. Here's part of the program's transcript Kaine's campaign provided to The Washington Post:

“I think the White House made a good decision in including a mandate for contraception coverage in the Affordable Care Act insurance policy, but I think they made a bad decision in not allowing a broad enough religious employer exemption. ... This is something that’s been talked about a lot today and I have definitely expressed my grave concerns to the White House about that. I support the contraception mandate but there should be a religious employer exemption that is broader than the one they proposed.”

Kaine's comments come just days after priests throughout the Diocese of Arlington—which includes  and  in Chantilly, and St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton—read a strongly-worded letter from Archbishop Paul S. Loverde on Sunday condemning the HHS decision. The letter was co-signed by the only other bishop in Virginia, Francis DiLorenzo of Richmond. 

"We cannot – we will not – comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens," Loverde and DiLorenzo wrote.  

Supporters of the decision made by the Department of Health and Human Services say that most women will use birth control in their lifetime and should have easier access to it. 

Despite his Catholic roots, some might consider Kaine an unlikely supporter of a looser mandate. In the past, he said he personally opposes abortion but doesn't want to overturn Roe v. Wade. He has voted in favor of some abortion restrictions, such as partial birth abortion. 

Between governing Virginia and running for the U.S. Senate, Kaine was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. , his likely opponent in the Senate general election, often uses Kaine's generally staunch support of Obama against the candidate.