Jesuit university to end contraception, sterilization coverage

April 04, 2012

The president of an Ohio Jesuit university has announced that it will no longer offer insurance coverage for “sterilizations and contraceptives, except for cases of medical necessity for non-contraceptive purposes.”

Father Michael Graham, SJ, said that Xavier University in Cincinnati reviewed its insurance coverage following the Obama administration’s announcement of the upcoming implementation of its mandate on contraceptive coverage.

“As a Catholic priest and as president of a Catholic university, I have concluded that, absent a legal mandate, it is inconsistent for a Catholic institution to cover those drugs and procedures which the Church opposes,” said Father Graham.

The university’s faculty committee--whose nine members are elected by their peers--criticized Father Graham’s decision. The committee is chaired by Shannon Byrne, director of the university’s classics and honors programs.

“This action might be more disruptive than productive, but if it comes from US Catholic Bishops, it is what it is,” the committee said in its response. “While acknowledging that, we are very concerned over the precedent this may set in weakening the semi-autonomous status of our university.”

“Moreover, we on Faculty Committee must convey our displeasure at the fact that you bypassed shared governance in this decision-making process,” the committee added. “Shared governance should not be ignored even when outside pressure is the driving force.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Father Graham’s letter (Cincinnati.com)
• XU ruling on birth control protested (Cincinnati.com)
• Letter from Faculty Committee (Cincinnati.com)