Roman Catholic leaders criticise Barack Obama over healthcare

Mr Obama has been accused of backtracking on an assurance that he made in a 2009 speech at the University of Notre Dame, a leading Catholic university in Indiana.

Speaking specifically about his planned health reforms, he said: “Let’s honour the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause”.

A White House spokesman said the reforms, which do not apply to the Church itself, struck “an effective balance between religious beliefs and increased access to important preventative services”.

The row threatens to damage Mr Obama’s support in November’s presidential election among Catholic voters, a group he won by 54 per cent to 45 per cent over his Republican rival John McCain in 2008.

Timothy Dolan, the Cardinal-designate of New York and president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged Catholics across America to bring political pressure to bear.

“Let your elected leaders know that you want religious liberty and rights of conscience restored and that you want the administration’s contraceptive mandate rescinded,” he said.

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