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Law Requires Catholic Church to Cover Contraception |
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Prayer-Soldier writes "
On 13 Aug 10, the Catholic News Agency reported that the state of Wisconsin will require the Catholic Church to offer insurance coverage of contraception for employees. The report related, that the law requires all commercial insurance policies with drug benefits must cover prescription contraceptives.
According to a 12 Aug 10 report posted by KansasCity.com, although the law requires the commercial insurance companies covering Catholic employees to provide contraception coverage, it does not necessarily need to be used by the employees. The report quoted Brent King, spokesman for the Madison, WI, diocese, as saying, “Our employees know what church teaching is. And we trust them to use their conscience and do the right thing."
Not all Catholics agree with the Church's position. The report quoted David Nolan of Catholics for Choice, who said, “The reality is the vast majority of Catholics use contraceptive family planning," Nolan continued, "And making them access it elsewhere or pay full price because they can't get it through their insurance is a needless barrier."
Despite efforts to press the Catholic Church to change its view of birth control, it has maintained that different forms of artificial contraception raise various issues of moral objection. Protestant Churches also disapproved of artificial methods of contraception until the 1930s. Many accounts point to a resolution voted upon at the 1930 Anglican Communion's Labeth Conference as opening the door to Protestant acceptance of artificial birth control.
According to the The Labeth Conference web site, resolution 15 of the 1930 conference stated, “Where there is clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipline and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit.” The resolution, however, continued to say, “Nevertheless in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles. The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception control from motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience.”
Some Pro-life Protestants however, have expressed concerns after learning how certain artificial means, such as the pill, function. According to an article by Missionaries to the Preborn, “A distinction exists between contraceptive birth control (Contraceptives) and abortifacient birth control (Abortifacients).” The article continues, “To put it bluntly, abortifacients kill pre-born children. Most Christians consider that the use of abortifacients is a personal choice. However, very few have really taken the time to understand that abortifacients cause growing little sons and daughters to die.”
While the moral debate continues, ironically, Pope Paul VI warned in his 1968 Encyclical Letter, Humanae Vitae, what governments might be tempted to do if the moral door of artificial birth control is opened. The Pope wrote, “Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.”
Cited Articles and Posts
Catholic News Agency (13 Aug 10)
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-law-requires-catholic-diocese-to-cover-contraception-under-employee-insurance/
KansasCity.com (12 Aug 10)
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/12/2144631/contraception-coverage-collides.html
The Labeth Conference (1930)
http://www.lambethconference.org/resolutions/1930/1930-15.cfm
Missionaries to the Preborn (Not Dated)
Vatican - Human Vitae (25 Jul 1968)
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Not Dated)
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.shtml#2370
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Not Dated)
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Posted on Monday, August 16 @ 00:35:03 MDT by admin
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