September 12, 2011 Dear Friends, As I’ve mentioned in previous updates, the Obama Administration has issued a new policy (as part of the new healthcare act) that forces most private health plans to provide coverage for birth control and sterilizations at no charge (no co-pay, no deductible). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which drafted and is implementing this policy, is accepting public comment until the end of September. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Catholic individuals, institutions and groups to submit comments urging DHHS to rescind this policy which represents an “unprecedented attack [...]

This is a call for action: the conscience rights of Americans are under attack. We must urge Congress to protect our conscience rights by supporting the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) by the 111th Congress in March 2010 created unparalleled threats to the conscience rights of insurers and purchasers of insurance. The Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, introduced by Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) in the House and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate, amends the PPACA to protect individual rights of conscience, including the right to [...]

Conscience Rights Violated by Sweeping HHS Contraceptive Mandate In implementing the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( the new health care reform law) The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a rule requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception and sterilizations as “preventive services” for women. The mandate even forces individuals and groups with religious or more objections to purchase and provide such coverage if they are to receive or provide health coverage at. This poses and unprecedented threat to individual and institutional religious freedom. Action: Please send and e-mail message [...]