Our Health Policy Matters

In arguing last week for the “contraception exception,” did Catholic Bishops – whose compassion for human beings is generally second to no one’s – really mean to open the door to those who would deny people access to other needed prevention services? To recap, the Obama Administration announced that birth control had to be a part of employer-based health insurance plans.  Contraception is considered preventive health, and the Affordable Care Act mandates this and many other prevention services be offered free of charge. The Catholic Bishops objected strongly.  They are morally opposed to birth control, and argued that, as an employer, the Church should not be compelled to pay for prevention services it deems immoral. The Obama Administration then announced a compromise.  No religious institution would be required to pay for contraception services in its health insurance plan, but insurers would still have to cover the services for women who wanted them. ...

In arguing last week for the “contraception exception,” did Catholic Bishops – whose compassion for human beings is generally second to no one’s – really mean to open the door to those who would deny people access to other needed prevention services? To recap, the Obama Administration announced that birth control had to be a part of employer-based health insurance plans.  Contraception is considered preventive health, and the Affordable Care Act mandates this and many other prevention services be offered free of charge. The Catholic Bishops objected strongly.  They are morally opposed to birth control, and argued that, as an employer, the Church should not be compelled to pay for prevention services it deems immoral. The Obama Administration then announced a compromise.  No religious institution would be required to pay for contraception services in its health insurance plan, but insurers would still have to cover the services for women who wanted them. ...