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In reaction to the Obama administration’s decision to compel health insurance companies to cover contraception, many colleges and other catholic institution are revolting, suing the administration to try to prevent the health care polices of its employees from covering birth control.
One institution is going even further. On Monday Ave Maria University announced its own radical approach. According to an article by Mary Wozniak The News-Press:
Ave Maria University will no longer offer group health insurance plans to students as of Aug. 15.
University President Jim Towey said Monday that students and parents can thank the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which will force premiums to skyrocket 66 percent and also mandates no-cost coverage for contraceptive services, including sterilization and some abortion-inducing drugs.
As Towey (who, incidentally, has five children) puts it:
“This is going to increase the stakes in this discussion and bring new light to the importance of religious liberty and how the federal mandate is an assault on it,” Towey said. “This is extraordinary to see so many large Catholic institutions suing the federal government. I’m not sure this has happened in my lifetime.”
Well that’s great that it will “increase the stakes” but perhaps more importantly it means that 15 percent of your students won’t have any health insurance.
Why is the moral obligation to not use a health plan that covers birth control more important than the moral obligation to ensure the health of your students? [Image via]
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gifgrrl on May 23, 2012 12:22 PM:
Never let it be said that the Catholic church isn't hypocritical. This ranks right up there with opposing the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV, since condoms just might prevent some babies from being conceived. Better people die than not be conceived. And now - better people get sick than be able to afford (and oh, lordy, get) contraception.
Paula on May 23, 2012 1:12 PM:
Another reason for Single Payer. Apparently we're now going to be embroiled in a series of companies and orgs using Health Insurance as pawns in various battles. Screw 'em all. This is one of the flaws of our employer-based system -- it has always given too much power to entities that have other priorities than the health and well being of the citizenry.
Marktropolis on May 23, 2012 1:27 PM:
Not surprising coming from Ave Maria, the place established by Thomas Monaghan (former CEO of Domino's; stridently anti-abortion and anti-contraception). Current president Towey was also head of the Faith-Based Initiatives office under G.W. Bush. You might remember them getting in trouble because they were trying to ensure that faith-based organizations could discriminate and still receive federal funding.
That, and given the institution's size and influence over the rest of academe (basically zero) very small chance that this is the beginning of a movement.
Kathy on May 23, 2012 4:47 PM:
Not that this place sounded like a good place to work or attend before, it sounds even worse now.
Kathryn on May 23, 2012 10:16 PM:
Well boys and girls, for those of us who remember our parochial school days fondly, it's official, this isn't your social gospel Catholic Church anymore, it's Rick Santorum, Antonin Scalia world now. I'm long gone from those pews but frankly I don't know how regular Catholics can any longer accept the radical overreach by the hierarchy of the American Catholic Church In regards to contreception, which came within a eyelash of being approved by Vatican II. Their sanctimonious victimhood is truly nauseating.