HHS mandate leaves no good options for Catholic employers
August 08, 2012
For Catholic employers at secular firms, the imposition of the HHS contraceptive mandate poses immediate moral problems.
The law—which has now taken effect for secular employers, although religious employers remain exempt for a year—requires employers to fund contraceptive services as part of their health-insurance plans. How can Catholic employers escape involvement in an immoral program? The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) has produced a moral analysis of that question, assessing each of the available alternatives.
“Dropping all coverage appears to be the most morally sound approach,” the NCBC concludes. However, for many employers that option may not be viable, since fines could force the businesses to close.
One option is clearly not justifiable for employers, the NCBC argues:
Willingly accepting, approving, and funding insurance plans for employees as a means to ensure employee access to health care and business survival under the mandate would be invoking a good end to justify an illicit means.
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Further information:
- Time's Up: Catholic Business Owners Weigh Moral Options in HHS Mandate (National Catholic Register)
- Options for Non-Exempt Employers under PPACA (NCBC)
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Posted by: rpp -
Aug. 09, 2012 10:28 AM ET USA
More than just employers are affected. Most employees contribute to their health care. I, for one, pay some of the costs of coverage for myself and my family. Therefore, I am forced to pay for, to subsidize, actions which I believe to be morally reprehensible. My alternative, refuse coverage and pay a very steep fine - excise me, a TAX, for not funding that which I believe to be immoral.
