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Ever since the Obama administration announced its decision to compel religiously affiliated employers to include contraception as a health benefit for employees, the reactions have been fierce.
Now, as WNPR's Jeff Cohen reports, the growing controversy has reached Connecticut.
The new federal rule is based on the recommendations of an independent medical panel. It won't apply to churches and their employees, but it will eventually apply to religiously affiliated hospitals, universities, and charities. And it will mean that most health insurance plans will have to cover contraceptive services for women at no extra cost.
Governor Dannel Malloy waded into the debate yesterday. He defended the president on MSNBC's Morning Joe, and said it's a rule that 28 states already have.
"I think it's the right rule. What they're saying is, 'If we're going to reimburse you for Medicaid expenses, then you have to provide the full list of legally provided services.'"
National Catholic leaders have met with the president and aggressively opposed the rule that would still affect religiously-affiliated non-profits. Locally, Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell says he and others are exploring legal and legislative challenges to what is a "shocking" and "unconstitutional" rule.
Michael Culhane is the executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference, the chief lobbyist for the church in the state. He calls the rule a major affront to religious freedom.
"These mandates obligate all employers across the country to provide women's health care services free of charge for procedures that violate the moral teachings of the church."
At least one state newspaper, the New London Day, has called on the president to reverse his decision.
Meanwhile, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Women's Law Center have hailed it - saying the rule is what's best for women's health.
For WNPR, I'm Jeff Cohen.
HOST TAG: This story is part of a reporting partnership that includes WNPR, NPR, and Kaiser Health News. Support comes from the Connecticut Health Foundation.
