Catholics v. contraception

Notre Dame has filed a lawsuit, along with several other institutions, opposing portions of the new health care laws that require them to provide health insurance that covers birth control.

At first this seems harsh. Yet another tantrum by a big and influential religious sect — entirely unnecessary and only a means of stopping progress.

But Notre Dame is a private, Catholic institution.

They are not associated with anything other than the Church and have only themselves to answer to. They have different priorities than public organizations.

From the beginning, the Catholic Church stated that if Obamacare and the new health care laws forced them to provide health insurance covering birth control and abortions, they would shut down their facilities.

This is not just about women’s rights or sexual repression and oppression.

It’s about the morality of the new healthcare law.

For the Church, birth control and abortions are sinful because they terminate potential human life.

In providing health insurance that covers these medications and procedures, the Church is placing itself in a state of mortal sin.

This is about protecting their own. Quite literally, they do not want to endanger the immortal souls of their Catholic workers.

The Church will not impose these doctrines on any other institution, but its hand is an influential one in our society.

If the Church shuts down its programs, more than just Notre Dame will be lost.
St. Francis and St. Vincent hospitals, Catholic adoptive services, charities, homeless shelters, schools — all gone.

Thought this is not nearly as extreme, it’s a step in this direction. And they gave fair warning.

Still, a large percentage of Catholics wish that the Church would waver. It will not.

However, the Church and many Catholics do agree the health reforms are charitable and helpful. Many Catholics support Obamacare because they believe it will bring much needed change and aid.

Many Catholics also wish this would stop being such a big deal. It’s just one hang-up. But it’s a major, philosophical one.

There needs to be a compromise, and soon.

The Catholic Church is a major institution; if it is forced to comply with regulations that go directly against its doctrines it will withdraw affected programs from the public sphere.

Notre Dame’s lawsuit is only the first of many. And the consequences could be much worse.

For the Church, this is not a political or civil argument. This is a moral one. And it needs to be addressed.

­— opinion@idsnews.com
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