Bishops Sue New York To Stop Mandated Birth Control Insurance

EWTN ^ | 12/31/02

[marshmallow]

ALBANY, New York, Dec 31, 02 (CWNews.com) - The eight Catholic bishops of New York state filed a lawsuit against the state on Monday to overturn a new law that requires employers to offer health insurance that covers birth control for women.

The bishops contend that the law forces the Catholic Church to endorse immoral and sinful practices. "Such an outrageous law ought to alarm anyone who loves America and the freedoms for which it stands," the eight bishops said in a statement. "We cannot let this unprecedented intrusion on our religious rights go unchallenged."

The law, which takes effect tomorrow, requires that worker health insurance provide coverage for birth control and other women's health services, such as mammograms. Supporters of the law said they believe the law will stand up in court.

The bishops had requested an exemption for the contraception mandate from the New York Legislature, but while the Republican-led Senate seemed initially receptive to the idea, it later capitulated to pro-abortion groups and agreed to the Democratic-led Assembly's harsher version of the bill.

Under the version approved, the state exempts employers only if their primary function is religious, most of the people they serve share that religion, and most of the people they employ also share that religion. As a result, the exemption does not apply to Catholic hospitals or schools.

[Cicero]

I think the bishops will hold the line on this, because it's one area that the Vatican has enforced. Bishops who have let their hospitals edge into sterilization or abortion or similar matters--usually through mergers--have gotten into trouble with Rome. Cardinal O'Connor would have closed the hospitals down, as he once threatened to do, and I hope that Cardinal Egan will take a similar line.

Catholic hospitals receive their outside funding largely from the collection plate, and many of them serve mostly poor non-Catholics. It would make life much easier for diocesan budgets if they were all closed. Only charity keeps them open.

[Gophack]

If Caesar feels a need to meddle in the affairs of religious groups, then let Caesar figure out what to do with a bunch of additional Medicaid patients.

Bump!!!!!

[Gophack]

If you have any doubt about that, you should get a teaching job in a Catholic school and then announce that you're co-habitating with your boyfriend/girlfriend. The school can and will terminate you without any due process -- there's probably a clause in every Catholic employees' contract that says something to this effect.

I should hope so! My kids go to a non-denominational Christian school with very strict rules about things like that ... including co-habitation and out-of-wedlock births. While I agree with the rules (I wouldn't want to have to explain to my kids right now why unmarried Miss. Jones is pregnant), I would hope that after the baby is born they would allow the woman to come back to work, otherwise it encourages abortion in exchange for a job.

That being said, I will be praying that the Bishops and the whole of the Church -- joined I hope by Protestant religions who oppose contraceptives, or at least contraceptives that cause abortions -- are successful in this very, very important battle. If we lose this, we will lose far more than we realize.

First Amendment BUMP!

[Gophack]

The Church cannot IMPOSE its laws in the general public

We are not trying to IMPOSE our laws on the general public, we simply believe that we shouldn't be forced, as a Catholic institution, to pay for something that we believe is morally wrong and a sin.

[muawiyah]

It's not a case of forcing moral behavior on others - this is a situation where the organs of the fascist state are forcing the Catholic church (and others) to participate in immoral behavior.

Any suggestion to the contrary is, in fact, morally unsound advice and will probably get you a trip straight to Oblivion or Outer Darkness, do not pass Go, lose your soul.

[ladylib]

Great idea.

[Coleus]

`

[Coleus]

Can you ping the NY Catholics.

[Kuksool]

Liberals hate Christians to the same degree that the Taliban does.

[ladyjane]

And what was the position of these bishops regarding Viagra? Insurance pays for it - 15 pills a month! Eliminate coverage for Viagra and get at the 'root' of the problem. ; )

[Gophack]

It's because Christianity is a threat to the liberal world view. Liberalism is inherently selfish, and Christianity is inherently unselfish. They are diametrically opposed.