White House: Women 'Deserve' to Have Employers Buy Them Contraceptives

Religion Today | Published: Feb 07, 2012

White House: Women 'Deserve' to Have Employers Buy Them Contraceptives

February 8, 2012

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said this week that American women "deserve" to have their employers buy them health insurance plans that cover contraceptives, sterilizations and abortifacient drugs, even if the employer is a faith-based organization with moral objections to those services, CNSNews.com reports. A new regulation in the Affordable Care Act finalized by the Obama administration on Jan. 20 mandates that all healthcare plans in the U.S. cover such medications -- a law that has led to an outcry from faith-based groups about religious liberties and freedom of conscience. "I understand that there have been objections," Carney said. "But I think it's important to note here that we believe these services are important and that American women deserve to have access to that kind of insurance coverage regardless of where they work." A group of Catholic leaders have said they are ready to go to war with Obama. "We cannot -- we will not -- comply with this unjust law," a group of bishops said, and evangelicals have also joined in the battle. "This is not a Catholic issue only," said Michael Anthony Milton of Reformed Theological Seminary. "It is an American issue. ... It is time for Americans to speak up for religious freedom while there is still time."

White House: Women 'Deserve' to Have Employers Buy Them Contraceptives