San Diego, Calif., Aug 23, 2011 / 04:19 am
The St. Gianna Physician’s Guild has launched an online petition asking the Obama administration to remove references to contraception and contraception counseling from its new health care guidelines and to provide a conscience clause to protect the religious freedom of Catholics.
“We are going to send a message to the Obama administration that this contraception mandate is wrong, discriminatory and violates the religious rights of Catholics all across America,” said guild president Thomas McKenna.
On Aug. 1, the Department of Health and Human Services adopted new guidelines for women’s health that mandate coverage for surgical sterilization and all FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, including abortifacient drugs like Ella. They also mandate counseling to promote contraception.
The guild’s petition charged that the guidelines are “bad medicine” because they encourage “unhealthy and immoral sexual practices” which will increase demand for more STD treatment and abortion services.