February 7, 2012 ACTION NEEDED Please call the White House (202-456-1414) and express your thanks to the President for his decision on contraception.
Tell him you appreciate his not caving in to narrow sectarian interests on a matter of crucial importance. His decision provides hospital workers and students access to birth control AND it honors the Constitutional separation between religion and state that protects the freedom of ALL Americans.
KNOW THE FACTS Is it possible that we are still debating birth control in the 21st century?
The decision to require employers who provide employee health insurance to include the option of contraceptive coverage has been called an overreach by the Catholic Church and by certain news commentators. That is a deliberate distortion that, unfortunately, is gaining traction. The Catholic Church is overreaching when it demands that all hospitals and educational institutions bar their health insurance providers from including contraceptive coverage. These are plans offered to all employees, not just Catholic employees, and not just in Catholic institutions.
It is wrong for hospitals and universities that receive billions in federal funds to discriminate against its employees on the basis of religion and to deny women the basic health care options required by law.
FACT: No religious group is being forced to use, purchase or endorse contraception.
FACT: Birth control is basic health care. Birth control is also preventive care, and it improves women's health.
FACT: Ninety-nine percent of women use birth control at some point in their lives and, one in three women struggles to cover the cost of birth control.
FACT: When women cannot get contraceptive coverage because of the religious beliefs of others, the constitutional separation of religion and state is being compromised.
FACT: This is the 21st century and women who are denied access to contraceptive coverage are being treated like second-class citizens. |
