Biden on Contraception Controversy: 'We Can Work It Out'

Vice President Joe Biden said today he was confident the Obama administration could resolve concerns surrounding its decision to require most employers, including Catholic hospitals and charities,  to offer health insurance that fully covers contraception.

"I am determined to see that this gets worked out, and I believe we can work it out," Biden told WLW radio in Cincinnati today. "But the frustration … is real."

The vice president said there had been "a lot of misunderstanding" about the administration's decision, suggesting there had not been enough focus on the one-year time frame for employers to comply.

"When HHS put out its ruling on this issue, it said that it's going to take a year to work out whatever difficulties the Catholic church has, to make sure we do not force the Catholic church into a position where they are having to do something that they fundamentally think is inconsistent with their religious beliefs. That is under way," he explained.

"There's going to be a significant attempt to work this out, and there's time to do that. And as a practicing Catholic, you know, I am of the view that this can be worked out and should be worked out and I think the president, I know the president, feels the same way," Biden said.