Baltimore, Md., Oct 6, 2017 / 15:45 pm
The chair of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Religious Liberty says that expanded religious liberty protections in the federal contraception mandate are a "victory for the First Amendment, and a victory for all Americans, even those who don't agree with the Church's" teaching on contraception.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced revisions to the contraception mandate provisions of the Affordable Care Act Oct. 6, considerably expanding exemptions for religious groups and others with moral or ethical objections to providing contraception in employee health plans.
In comments to CNA, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, who has led the bishops' religious liberty efforts since the formation of the committee in 2011, said the announcement was "very welcome news."
"I think it restores a balance that was lacking," the archbishop said. "It permits us to do our ministries" without violating Catholic moral principles, he added.