On Sunday, Feb. 5 at the 9 p.m. mass, it was announced that employers across the country, regardless of organization or religion, are required by law to provide and sell insurance to their employees that includes the coverage of contraceptives, sterilization procedures, and abortion-inducing drugs.
Speaking as someone who has attended the March for Life more than once, this is a slap in the face to this movement. This forcible insurance violates the employers and the employees’ First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and freedom of religion. As a member of the Catholic faith, I know that Catholic ideals and traditions reject the implementation of contraceptives, sterilization, and any procedure that causes an intentional abortion.
Therefore, by requiring individuals to either sell or buy this insurance, the federal government is pushing aside the very principles on which this country was founded. The United States of America prides itself on freedom and equality on the surface, but when taking a closer look, that seems to be a façade. Catholics, and others with the same views, will be forced to choose between their conscience and their values and the law. The government is persecuting people who believe differently than what the law states and taking away the freedoms that are promised by it.
This news was a devastating shock to the community, and the magnitude of the shock is due to the lack of news coverage about this new law. It makes one wonder why the major organizations involved in the Pro-Life movement did not publicize this event that undermines all of the dedication to the movement and why it has taken so long for something to be done to counteract this atrocity.
– Brianne Keller is a senior in the Doisy College of Health Sciences.
Josh Buechler • Feb 15, 2012 at 6:38 am
It seems to me that these supposedly religious institutions are only sectarian when it suits them, like when trying to oppose this mandate. Other times however, like when trying to obtain state and city tax credits to build new sports arenas, their religious affiliations are downplayed.
This mandate specifically does not require actual houses of worship to change their policies towards their employees. It is true however that affiliated institutions, such as universities and hospitals, do fall under the mandate. It should be noted however that such institutions often recieve public funding through a number of channels, be it through research grants or yes, tax credits for sports arenas. If dealing with such affilated institutions does indeed directly involve the church, then public support of such institutions is just as unconstitutional as you claim this law to be.
Added note: What purposely “abortion inducing” drugs are being included in this mandated coverage? Beyond the overstated and exagerated claims in articles such as this, no report of them can be found.