The Catholic Bishops announced a new “religious freedom campaign” on Thursday, partially in response to the Obama Administration’s recent announcement that employers’ insurance plans must include contraception coverage. The Bishops said that the campaign will stretch over a number of years and will include a “Fortnight for Freedom” prayer and study campaign leading up to July 4.
In a statement , the Bishops wrote about the need “to speak frankly with each other when our freedoms are threatened. Now is such a time. As Catholic bishops and American citizens, we address an urgent summons to our fellow Catholics and fellow Americans to be on guard, for religious liberty is under attack, both at home and abroad.”
The Obama Administration, in an accommodation, made clear that if a religiously-affiliated institute objects, the insurance company will provide the coverage for contraception directly to the employee or student without institutional involvement. The regulation requiring birth control coverage without co-pays or deductibles as a part of the preventive care package goes into effect August 2012.
Washington Post 4/12/12; CNN 4/12/12; AP 4/12/12; Feminist News Wire 4/4/12 3/15/12
