Bishop: I won't let insurer give disputed coverage

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From the Modesto Bee:The Roman Catholic bishop of Pittsburgh said Tuesday that he will refuse to sign a document allowing its health plan to provide birth control and abortion coverage for employees of a diocese-related charity, even if it means paying fines.

The Pittsburgh diocese and its counterpart in Erie are challenging federal health care law changes that require contraceptive and abortion coverage in employee health plans.

Tuesday’s hearing was focused on whether U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab should block the government from enforcing the mandate while the dioceses pursue their lawsuits claiming the requirements violate their First Amendment right of religious freedom.


God bless Bishop Zubik!
 
The diocese does not have to provide health care insurance for their workers. They will just have to pay a $2000 tax per employee, the first 30 employees don’t count, then the employees can buy their healthy insurance in the private market place. The diocese or any company could give the employees a bonus to help pay for the employee health care insurance. Many diocese employees will qualify for a tax credit to help pay for their health insurance also.
 
If you avoid evil by doing this, then aren’t you simply cooperating with evil?
 
Perhaps the best policy would be to refuse to comply with the HHS mandate, and to refuse to pay the fine.
 
tjones80 said:
The diocese does not have to provide health care insurance for their workers. They will just have to pay a $2000 tax per employee, the first 30 employees don’t count, then the employees can buy their healthy insurance in the private market place. The diocese or any company could give the employees a bonus to help pay for the employee health care insurance. Many diocese employees will qualify for a tax credit to help pay for their health insurance also.
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Don’t they get an exemption if all of its employees are Catholics?
 
JimG said:
Perhaps the best policy would be to refuse to comply with the HHS mandate, and to refuse to pay the fine.
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That would be economic suicide for the non-profit organization. Unless they get a court order staying the application of the law or just let employees buy their own health insurance they are stuck with the fines if they refuse the coverage.

You might disagree with the speed limit, but if you break it you can be fined for it. They must work within the law.
 
tjones80 said:
That would be economic suicide for the non-profit organization. Unless they get a court order staying the application of the law or just let employees buy their own health insurance they are stuck with the fines if they refuse the coverage.

You might disagree with the speed limit, but if you break it you can be fined for it. They must work within the law.
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Or they could choose not to obey an unjust law.

Here is the bishops’ latest statement regarding the HHS mandate.
 
ProVobis said:
Don’t they get an exemption if all of its employees are Catholics?
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My understanding is that waivers from the mandate are given only if the organization employs primarily members of its own faith, and serves only members of its own faith. The Little Sisters of the Poor, for example, are not exempt, even though their health insurance is only for themselves and they need no contraception coverage. But they serve the poor of any faith all over the world. By meeting their mission to serve the poor, they are not, by HHS definition, a religious organization! That’s why they have sued the HHS.

littlesistersofthepoor.org/44-news-a-events/329-becket-fund-files-lawsuit-for-little-sisters-of-the-poor
 
JimG said:
My understanding is that waivers from the mandate are given only if the organization employs primarily members of its own faith, and serves only members of its own faith. The Little Sisters of the Poor, for example, are not exempt, even though their health insurance is only for themselves and they need no contraception coverage. But they serve the poor of any faith all over the world. By meeting their mission to serve the poor, they are not, by HHS definition, a religious organization! That’s why they have sued the HHS.

littlesistersofthepoor.org/44-news-a-events/329-becket-fund-files-lawsuit-for-little-sisters-of-the-poor
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I thought so. And they should sue. The ones they serve aren’t employees of any kind.
 
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