Update: After this story was published, President Obama announced a compromise in the dispute over whether to require full contraception insurance coverage for female employees at religiously affiliated institutions.
CNN reports under the new plan, religiously affiliated universities and hospitals will not be forced to offer contraception coverage to their employees. Insurers will be required, however, to offer complete coverage free of charge to any women who work at such institutions.
Female employees at churches themselves will have no guarantee of any contraception coverage -- a continuation of current law.
There will be a one-year transition period for religious organizations after the policy formally takes effect on August 1.
Previous story:
GEORGETOWN S.C. — Local Catholics and others from across the country and state are protesting the recent edict that will require Catholic hospitals and schools to provide birth control and sterilization services.
Colin Peterson, leader of the Georgetown Council 3067 of the Knights of Columbus, said he has already filled out an Internet form that alerts his Congressman that he objects to the language included in the Obama Healthcare bill.
Meanwhile, news reports say that government officials are trying to reach a compromise regarding the edict and say the regulations do not infringe on Catholic beliefs.
Planned Parenthood officials also said the law was not an attack on religious freedom.
“This policy already includes an expansive refusal acception,” said Sloane Whelan, a spokeswoman with Planned Parenthood Health Systems. “Churches are already exempt from this, and do not have to provide their employees with this benefit.
“Catholic women use birth control in the same proportions as all other women,” she said. “The birth control benefit provides access to preventive healthcare while respecting religious freedom. A poll just released yesterday by the Public Religion Research Institute said that 57 percent of voters believe that women who work at Catholic hospitals should have the same benefits as those who do not work at Catholic hospitals.”
Bishop’s view
Robert E. Guglielmone, the Bishop of the Diocese of Charleston, said he is opposed to the measure that could be in place by 2013.
Guglielmone, in a letter this week to the Georgetown Times, said residents should work with bishops and other religious leaders to remove the regulation.
“We want people to let it be known that this is an affront to first amendment rights and freedom of religion guaranteed by the first amendment,” he said in an interview with the Times.
“This is a danger for our nation and all religious groups. We can’t sit back and let this happen. This is something that needs to be addressed. It’s a much bigger issue. We have to preserve the rights and freedoms provided in our constitution.”
Differing views
Georgetown County religious leaders also differ on whether the matter is infringing on the Catholic church’s beliefs on contraception.
Rich Morino, the state advocate for the Knights of Columbus, said the members of the Catholic fraternal organization are “very irate” with the requirements in the Healthcare bill.
“We’re discussing with the Knights of Columbus headquarters to see if what we want to do is OK,” he said. “It seems like something that someone had a very bad idea on.
“We’re Roman Catholic. When it goes against your religious beliefs, and you run a Catholic hospital, it’s problematic.”
Others, however, do not see it as being an attack on religion.
The coverage can be offered to those working at Catholic hospitals, but the employee does not have to use the benefit, said Bishop John Smith, leader of Bibleway Church of God in Georgetown.
“They are making it a political issue, saying it is against the church, but it’s not against the church, per se,” he said. “When you get insurance, it should be offered. It should be up to you or me to use it that way. You can put birth control on my desk, but it’s my choice to use it or not.”
Peterson said the local Knights are being encouraged by Bishop Guglielmone to oppose the measure.
A petition is also circulating among many churches along the coast, Peterson said.
“This has pushed a lot of buttons,” Peterson said. “We can’t just let this go. How could this get this far along without us knowing?”
By Kelly M. Fuller
Kfuller@gtowntimes.com
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