Rochester, N.Y.— At Sunday masses this weekend, parishioners will receive a letter from Bishop Matthew Clark.
In that letter will be a harsh criticism, a warning and a plea for help.
On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that all employers will have to provide healthcare coverage, which includes services like emergency contraceptives, sterilization and birth control.
Catholic bishops across the United States have publically announced they oppose this ruling and will fight it.
Employers at churches, mosques, temples and synagogues are exempt from this regulation. However, the Catholic Church is concerned about faith-based institutions such as schools, hospitals and charities.
Although these institutions aren’t owned by a church or religious group, many have deep religious roots.
“I think everyone was really shocked when [the rule] came out so black and white,” says Jann Armantrout, the Diocese of Rochester’s Life Issues Coordinator. “It was so forceful and really mandating religious organizations to either go out of business or compromise religious principles.”
But since many faith-based institutions hire employees who don’t follow their faith and serve people who are not of their faith, HSS wants to see that birth control services are included in employees’ healthcare coverage.
Catholics like Erika Voigt says that’s not the responsibility of the employer. She says people who take jobs at faith-based organizations should know what to expect from their employers based on their beliefs.
“Being Catholic and being Christian is a way of life,” Voigt says. “We cannot accept what goes against your principles. There are things people can do on their own. Do whatever they want with their own money. Why do they have to force everyone else to go with their decision?”
The Diocese of Rochester says the new regulation is a clear violation of their freedom of religion.
In the letter to parishioners, Bishop Clark says:
“Unless the ruling is overturned, we Catholics will be required either to violate our consciences or drop health care coverage for our employees.”
Bishop Clark told parishioners to ask their elected representatives to support legislation that will reverse the decision.
