Catholic Health Association renews criticism of contraception mandate
September 27, 2011
The Catholic Health Association (CHA)--which broke with the nation’s bishops by supporting health-care legislation passed in March 2010--has renewed its criticism of a new mandate that requires private insurers to provide women with coverage for FDA-approved contraception and sterilization.
“Requiring our members to cover contraceptive services, including sterilization and drugs with an abortifacient effect, would put them in an untenable situation,” said Sister Carol Keehan, the association’s president and CEO.
Referring to the mandate’s narrow religious exemption--which would exclude an organization only if it “primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets”--she added that “this is particularly problematic as Catholic teaching calls our members to serve those in need and the most vulnerable regardless of their faith.”
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Further information:
- Religious exemption to HHS mandate 'wholly inadequate,' CHA head says
- Catholic Health Association lauds Obama’s healthcare program (CWN, 9/14)
- Catholic Health Association ‘very concerned’ by contraception mandate (CWN, 8/3)
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