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The leaders of Wisconsin’s five Roman Catholic dioceses have written the Obama administration to express opposition to the mandated full coverage of sterilization, contraception and related counseling services by private health plans as required under new federal health care reform regulations.
The bishops asked that the mandate be rescinded completely or at least modified to include a broader protection for religious groups opposed to abortion, contraception and sterilization coverage, arguing in a Sept. 2 letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that the regulations do not adequately protect the religious liberty of institutions, employers, insurance providers and others.
“Such a mandate undermines our teaching that human fertility is not a disease. It is a gift, which exercised responsibly, allows humanity to prosper,” the bishops wrote. “Further, in its current form the rule employs a much too narrow definition of religious employer. Its effect is to so constrain religious activity as to diminish the religious liberty of Catholics in Wisconsin and the United States.”
The mandate contains a very narrow conscience exemption that will not apply to Catholic universities, hospitals and charitable organizations that serve the general public. The bishops note this fails to respect the church’s ability to function in society.
thecompassnews.org/news/local/2520-wisconsin-bishops-oppose-contraceptive-mandate.html
The bishops asked that the mandate be rescinded completely or at least modified to include a broader protection for religious groups opposed to abortion, contraception and sterilization coverage, arguing in a Sept. 2 letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that the regulations do not adequately protect the religious liberty of institutions, employers, insurance providers and others.
“Such a mandate undermines our teaching that human fertility is not a disease. It is a gift, which exercised responsibly, allows humanity to prosper,” the bishops wrote. “Further, in its current form the rule employs a much too narrow definition of religious employer. Its effect is to so constrain religious activity as to diminish the religious liberty of Catholics in Wisconsin and the United States.”
The mandate contains a very narrow conscience exemption that will not apply to Catholic universities, hospitals and charitable organizations that serve the general public. The bishops note this fails to respect the church’s ability to function in society.
thecompassnews.org/news/local/2520-wisconsin-bishops-oppose-contraceptive-mandate.html
