BIRTH CONTROL BACK IN THE NEWS

Last August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has upheld the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation to include birth control in a list of preventative services to be covered without co-payments through the Affordable Care Act. (See: "Feds uphold recommendation for free birth control").

Catholic churches across the USA on January 30, 2012 echoed with scorn for a new federal rule requiring faith-based employers to include birth control and other reproductive services in their health care coverage. (See: "Catholics blast federal birth control mandate"). The federal mandate exempts churches but applies to Catholic universities, Catholic-based charities and to groups affiliated with Methodists, Baptists and other denominations. id. "The rule requires nearly all employers to provide their employees access to health insurance that covers artificial contraception, sterilization services and the "morning after" birth control pill." id.

"Archbishop Gregory Aymond this weekend will issue a relatively rare pulpit letter urging tens of thousands of Mass-going Catholics to pray, brief themselves and write Congress protesting a new federal rule requiring Catholic employers to provide health insurance coverage for birth control and other reproductive services the church finds objectionable." (See: "Archbishop Gregory Aymond calls health coverage mandate a threat to conscience for Catholics").

"Aymond’s letter, which he asked to be read or circulated in 108 parishes, is part of Catholic bishops’ immediate push-back to the new rule, being implemented as part of the Obama administration’s health care reform." id. "Aymond called it “an unprecedented attack on our religious liberty, which is a founding principle of our nation.” id.

SEE ARCHBISHOP AYMOND'S LETTER HERE

"Sarah McDonald, the spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, said health insurance for the church’s 6,500 employees in parishes and schools currently does not include the services the church finds objectionable." id.

"In an op-ed printed in USA Today yesterday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius takes on accusations that a recent federal decision requiring health insurers to cover contraception as a preventive service is an attack on religious groups." (See: "Health secretary disputes claims that birth control decision disrespects religion").