In the letter, Jenkins said that while the school should remain "unwavering in our fidelity to our Catholic mission," the other religious beliefs and practices of members of the Notre Dame community should be respected. This is why, in November, the university decided that it would continue to provide contraceptive coverage for those who had "made conscientious decisions about the use of such drugs."
However, Jenkins has now taken issue with the range of drugs covered under this third-party provider, which, "includes the provision of abortion-inducing drugs." Jenkins said such drugs are "far more gravely objectionable in Catholic teaching." Jenkins did not delineate exactly which contraceptive drugs he considered to be more objectionable than others.
Due to the inclusion of these drugs, Jenkins has that the school's own insurance plan will directly cover a limited range of contraceptive drugs.
"Instead, the University will provide coverage in the University's own insurance plans for simple contraceptives (i.e., drugs designed to prevent conception)," as well as funding for Church-approved natural family planning methods, said Jenkins. He did not name which drugs would be covered by the school's plan.
Prior to the 2012 mandate, the school did not provide contraception coverage in its insurance plans, except when prescribed to treat a medical condition. Jenkins' letter said that Notre Dame's participation in the suit was an effort "to protect its ability to act in accord with its religious mission," and the positive outcome had secured the school's "right to decide."
Jenkins said that in November he had "thought it best...to allow the government-funded provision of these drugs and services to continue so that our employees could have access without University funding or immediate and direct involvement in their provision."