In the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services’ (HHS) News Release on Jan. 20, 2012, secretary Kathleen Seblius stated, “In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive services without charging a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible. The rule allows certain non-profit religious employers that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraceptive services.”
Until this past month the decision to adapt this health insurance plan was a choice, but now the government is forcing almost all employers, including religious institutions, to offer these preventive services to their employees, which also forces almost all individuals to buy the coverage as part of their policies.
This bill is causing controversy nation-wide and within our own community. Archbishop of Omaha, Most Rev. George J. Lucas, placed a letter in the St. John’s Newsletter exemplifying his views on the matter.
“In so ruling [this bill], the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty,” Lucas said.
With the decision to enforce all employers to offer this insurance, the HHS News Release stated, “Nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law. Employers wishing to take advantage of the additional year must certify that they qualify for the delayed implementation. This additional year will allow these organizations more time and flexibility to adapt to this new rule.”
If religious institutions decide not to comply by Aug. 1, 2013, then they will be forced to drop health coverage, which will affect people everywhere. The Catholic Bishops are calling this new bill “an attack on religious freedom.”
Is this bill an attack on religious freedom or is it a step in the direction of our generation?
“Nearly 99% of all women has relied on contraception at some point in their lives,” President Obama stated in a Huffington Post video.
Therefore, President Obama finds it important to allow women to receive free preventive services no matter where they work. President Obama also explained in the video that in order to respect religious liberty, religious organizations would not have to pay or provide for the services directly, but the insurance company will have to be the one to reach out and offer women contraceptive care free of charge.
“We cannot — we will not — comply with this unjust law … As a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored,” Archbishop Lucas said.