AUSTIN -- As President Obama weathers relentless attacks from Republican candidates anxious to take his job, a change in rules governing the president's new health care law has drawn criticism from an unexpected source.
"I'm afraid the administration is on the wrong side of the Constitution again," said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a video posted to the organization's website.
The new rule will add Catholic institutions like churches, hospitals, and schools to the rest of health insurance providers required to cover FDA-approved contraceptives and surgical sterilization under their plans. Such a requirement goes against church doctrine that opposes any form of contraception.
Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Catholic Diocese of Austin issued a letter to parishioners condemning the rule as a violation of the first amendment. The letter was read in every Austin church at Sunday mass, and called upon parishioners to reach out to elected officials.
"If an individual purchaser of insurance or an organization that provides insurance finds certain things to be morally objectionable, then they shouldn't be forced by the government to pay for them," said Monsignor Mike Sis, Vicar General of the Austin Diocese.
Some support the new rule.
On the board of directors for Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region, Perla Cavazos says the issue transcends religion freedom and should be considered a fundamental right.
"Planned Parenthood absolutely respects religious freedom," said Cavazos. "You know, 98 percent of American women use or have used birth control at some point of their life, so we think it's a fundamental right for women."
"You're walking on very thin lines," said Shelby Alexander.
A student at St. Edward's University, a private Catholic university in South Austin, Alexander says schools that don't cover contraceptives in their health plans put students in a difficult position.
"If you feel like you can't get those services provided to you on campus, you're going to look elsewhere," said Alexander. "A lot of times it will be more expensive."
Monsignor Sis says the Church doesn't take issue with people seeking plans elsewhere that cover more services, but is adamant the Church be allowed to keep its own council when making decisions for its institutions.
"We think that it's great for there to be health care reform so that health care will be available to more people in this country; that's a great development," said Msgr. Sis. "However we don't think that providing broader health care should be done in a way that violates people's moral conscience."
Barring a sudden change of heart from the administration, it would likely take a legislative act to answer Catholic leaders' prayers.
