Pittsburgh Bishop Zubik: 'To Hell' With New Contraception Rules
The Obama administration is requiring church-affiliated employers to provide health care plans that cover access to contraception.
Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik Friday joined a growing segment of religious leaders speaking out against the Obama administration’s new law that requires religious employers to offer health plans covering free contraceptives.
In an open letter titled "To Hell With You," Zubik on Friday characterized some of the mandates in the administration’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as a "slap in the face" and an attack on religious freedom.
Zubik specifcally refers to guidelines that require all individual and group health insurance plans, including self-insured plans, to cover FDA-approved contraception, sterilization procedures and pharmaceuticals "that even result in abortion," Zubik writes.
"The Obama administration has just told the Catholics of the United States, “To Hell with you!” There is no other way to put it," Zubik wrote in the letter posted on the Pittsburgh Diocese website.
The church opposes contraception and pharmaceuticals such as the "morning-after" pill.
Under the law, Zubik believes many Catholic institutions would be affected, including local schools and churches.
Zubik writes:
Practically speaking under the proposed mandate there would be no “religious exemption” for Catholic hospitals universities, colleges, nursing homes and numerous Catholic social service agencies such as Catholic Charities. It could easily be determined that the “religious exemption” would not apply as well to Catholic high schools, elementary schools and Catholic parishes since many employ non-Catholics and serve both students and, through social outreach, many who do not share Catholic religious beliefs. Such a narrow “religious exemption” is simply unprecedented in federal law.
Zubik's letter urges Catholics to contact their local political leaders and lists several names and numbers for the White House, Pennsylvania Congressmen and Senators.
What do you think about the new mandates in the health plan?
Tell us in the comments.
Marty Bales
7:34 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
So, my question would be if we the church as our religious belief can't be exempt because of our religious freedom what is going to stop the government from making us get an embedded chip one day soon?
Una Ruskin
8:56 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
No one is forcing anyone to use the contraception! Are you still so blind to reality that you think Catholics don't use birth control? What ever happened to "free will"? If Catholics don't want to use birth control they don't have
to! No wonder your churches are empty!
Patrick OMalley
11:42 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
That's one reason Catholic churches are empty, but when you add in the rampant child rape, the lying about it, and fighting the victims, its really much more like a satanic church.
Dan
10:31 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
This is about the Catholic church controlling the religious "freedom" of their congregations. Does anyone see the irony? The government is not telling anyone they have to use contraception. The Catholic church wants to choose for you.
Yooper
12:34 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Not only is the Catholic church attempting to dictate to their congregations they are also attempting to extend that philosphy to non-catholics by their control of health care in some geographic areas. A non-catholic who can only avail him or herself of health care in an isolated area dominated by any church affiliated health care system is at the mercy of that system. Telling someone to go elsewhere if they disagree could be tantamont to a death sentence if your 100 miles from a more enlightened health care system and its in the midst of a winter storm for example.
Emily
11:19 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I agree with Dan and Una. I was raised Catholic and was told that I go to the gyno once I was married....well I got pregnant at 19, still not married, but have learned so many valuable lessons along the way. Now in a committed relationship with another Catholic single Dad raising our children in today's world not ignoring the fact that they have the right to choose to use protection, including contraception! Thankful we have insurance to cover this. Reality needs to set in for those Catholics who don't agree.
Dave
2:15 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
It is ironic that the Bishop cites the first amendment which prohibits the making of any law respecting the establishment of religion in his remarks for his request for religious exemption from the law.
The First amendment protects the right of the Bishop to voice his opinions and belief system. If the religious followers of the Bishop wish to abstain from using contraception and abortion methods they are free to do so. What the bishop wants is to apparently refuse to pay for the same healthcare the rest of the country will be held accountable to pay for. If you are employed by a catholic university, charity or church and in need of the same procedure that walmart or the local healthcare employer must pay for well too bad we don't believe it's moral.
This is a healthcare law that was put in place to help many who do not share in the belief that contraception or abortion is always immoral. On the contrary many an argument based on health and wellness statistics can be made that not making contraception available and the pius idea of contraception being immoral can be the cause of much of the suffering in our world. What we really need is more unwanted pregnancies especially among those who have the hardest time affording healthcare. Have we not seen enough, Is it about time for the pius to admit they are in the dark about morality?
I for one am thankful for the first amendment and the secular ethics that rise above this type of thinking.
Jessica Sinichak
2:42 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Hi everyone,
We appreciate your opinions but please be respectful. Also, comments that are not relevant to the story topic will be deleted. If you have any questions, email me at jessica.sinichak@patch.com. Thanks!
Jessica
RW
7:02 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
Great article, Larissa!
Becky
Larissa Dudkiewicz
9:45 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
Thank you Becky!