Catholic leaders oppose birth-control rules

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Catholic leaders in Ohio have joined the chorus of church officials urging parishioners to protest and pray about the federal government’s decision to require many church- affiliated institutions to cover free birth control for employees.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr in Cincinnati, Bishop Richard Lennon in Cleveland and Bishop Leonard Blair in Toledo shared their opposition in letters that were distributed or read to parishioners this weekend, saying the decision runs counter to their beliefs and violates their religious freedom. Their dioceses

In the similarly worded letters, they say they won’t comply with a requirement for health coverage of services such as contraception, abortion-inducing drugs or sterilization. Schnurr’s letter called the decision “a heavy blow” to Catholics and others they serve.

The bishops are urging parishioners to pray or fast and to consider contacting lawmakers in Congress to push for legislation reversing the requirement.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has said she believes the proposal balances religious freedom with increased access to preventive care.

Houses of worship are exempt, but the requirement applies to nonprofit institutions such as church-affiliated hospitals, colleges and social service agencies. Sebelius recently said those nonprofit institutions would get an extra year to comply with the requirement, issued in regulations under President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul.

Spokesman Robert Tayek of the Cleveland diocese called it “the first time the federal government ever put out a mandate that asks people to violate their conscience,” according to WEWS-TV. Tayek said hospitals and Catholic charities were among quite a few Catholic institutions in the area that would be affected.

Officials in Obama’s administration have pointed out that the decision of whether and how to use birth control is up to individuals and their doctors, but some people believe the requirement goes too far.

“To force a religious institution to perform those services strikes me as an egregious violation of conscience,” Peter Feldmeier, a professor of Catholic studies at the University of Toledo, told The Blade newspaper. “I think the government is overstepping its bounds in a big way.”

Church officials are ready for a legal battle if the government doesn’t reverse the requirement, Dan Andriacco, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, told The Cincinnati Enquirer.

“It’s unconstitutional,” he said. “This is outrageous and we’re not going to sit back and take it.”