It is alarming, but not surprising, that the Left in this country is so eager to prohibit believers from practicing their religion. The latest stunning example of religious bigotry is detailed in this Washington Post story.
The contraceptive-coverage rule — proposed by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in August — expands on a more general provision in the 2010 health-care law that requires all new insurance plans to cover preventive services specified by Sebelius without co-pays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs. In including birth control, Sebelius suggested exempting nonprofit groups whose purpose is to inculcate religious values and that primarily employ and serve people who share those values.
That definition prompted an outcry from representatives of religious groups, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. They argued that the exception was so narrow that virtually the only qualifying organizations would be churches. Left out would be a host of religion-affiliated institutions such as Catholic hospitals, schools and clinics.
“You are forcing a Catholic organization to pay for something that goes directly against its belief system,” said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the bishops.
She said it is also unfair and illogical to treat Catholic social service agencies as the equivalent of secular ones simply because they serve many non-Catholics. Their Christian faith is what drives such groups to serve needy people regardless of religion, she said. “We serve people because we’re Catholic, not because they’re Catholic.”
Congratulations to North Carolina’s Belmont Abbey College, which is fighting this bigotry in court.
