Catholics And The ‘War On Women’

Contrary to what many contemporary voices will tell you, the Catholic Church’s fight for religious liberty is not a war on women. There is no greater time than now for Catholics, such as myself, in our battle for religious freedom, to proclaim how our church has been a friend to women, most especially in the realms of health care, respect and support.

Announced by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius on Jan. 20, the Affordable Care Act Health and Human Services Mandate demands that all health insurance providers dispense contraception, abortifacients, and sterilizations, without a co-pay, as part of women’s health care.

This mandate does not exempt religious institutions, except churches, and in doing so forces thousands of Catholic and faith-based institutions — such as hospitals, universities and charitable organizations — to violate the morals and ethics prescribed by their religious beliefs. Religious institutions have made it clear that they will not comply — for to do so would go against the work they’re doing in society.

The Obama administration’s rationale for this is that contraception is necessary preventive health care for women. But setting aside the absence of dozens of other preventative measures not being offered for “free” by the Affordable Care Act, one must ask just how necessary this so-called preventative health care is. [More]

SOURCE

Meg McDonnel/International Business Times