Washington D.C., Aug 29, 2011 / 18:30 pm
Several Catholics known for supporting Obama administration policies are opposing the lack of religious conscience protections in rules requiring most new health plans to cover contraception and sterilization.
In an open letter issued August 26, the self-described “ad hoc group of Catholic leaders and professors” called on Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius “to extend conscience protection to religious charities, religious hospitals, and religious schools in regards to mandated health insurance coverage” under the 2010 Affordable Care Act.
The signatories - many of whom also signed an earlier letter criticizing House Speaker John Boehner in May - cited the First Amendment’s protection of religious activity, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s ban on religious discrimination, to argue for broader religious exceptions.
On August 1, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that only certain religious institutions could opt out of providing contraception, under the heading of “women’s preventive services,” in their new health plans.