Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, has issued a letter that was either read at all parishes this weekend, or distributed with their bulletins concerning the Church's response to the recent health care mandate imposed upon employers by the US Federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Bishop Kmiec stated that Catholics will be faced with the decision to "...violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees..."
Kmiec reiterated that the diocese "cannot - we will not - comply with this unjust law."
This mandate, which forces health insurance plans to cover abortifacient, contraceptive and sterilization drugs and services, runs contrary to Catholic teachings and may be unconstitutional, as it might violate the US Constitution's First Amendment provision for the free expression of religious beliefs.
It must be noted that the free expression of religion is generally recognized to be not limited to only the freedom to worship as an individual pleases, but also the freedom to practice and live out those beliefs. In the Church's understanding, facilities such as human service agencies (for example adoption and charitable organizations) and hospitals should be free to incorporate Catholic teachings and be allowed to opt-out of Federal and State regulations that are contrary to such teachings. This is the co-called "conscience clause." It includes opting out of health-care plans or regulatory requirements containing provisions that violate the Church's teachings on sex, reproduction and life. If this has proven impossible, the Church's institutions have dropped the services.
This is the challenge that Churches which serve the general public face. How to balance teachings with civil compliance. It is also a challenge that civil authorities face. How to view the health- and educational- services of Churches as a possible value-added benefit to society when the belief systems may differ from secular viewpoints. It appears that tolerance and diversity flow both ways.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the governing body of the Church in the United States, is organizing opposition to the HHS mandate, and will seek to restore the conscience clause.
Far from being an attempt to impose Catholic beliefs on anyone, it is described by the Bishops as a defense of religious liberties.
Related sources:
Bishops to oppose health care mandate
Catholic Charities ends adoption services in Illinois
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