President Obama came out last week announcing that Catholic institutions (schools and hospitals for example) would need to provide contraceptive coverage for all of its employees. After an uproar from religious leaders, he “backed off” his stance and said instead that if the Catholic institutions would not provide then the Insurance Companies that the Catholic institutions have their health coverage through would need to provide contraceptive care “free of charge.” If they refuse, there would be mandatory penalties. In essence, President Obama didn’t change his stance at all. Either way, the Catholic leaders are being asked to violate their convictions and beliefs. Not only do Catholics not believe in contraception, the president includes the morning after pill in his definition of “contraceptive care.”
While there are multiple problems with this presidential mandate the most significant problem is that this issue cuts to the core of the first amendment of the constitution and is exactly what our revolutionary founders fought and gave their lives for. The free exercise of religion means, in part, that the government can not create mandates which violate core convictions/beliefs. This is not a Catholic issue. It is an issue that impacts everyone of faith and those who believe in the constitution.
Please be aware of these issues and stay up to date. Here is what some key leaders of faith are saying on this issue.
Don’t take our religious freedom for granted. People before us have given their lives for that freedom. The bible is clear that we must follow God not man.
