KHAS Weather
Local Catholic church responds to new healthcare requirement
One local parish responds to Wednesday's official implementation of the new Obamacare law, the policy that requires most employers to provide free birth control coverage in their health insurance policies.
This mandate has sparked national reaction from conservative and religious groups. News 5 spoke with Father Walsh of St Cecilia and he tells us faith based groups will be significantly affected later on down the road. Catholic institutions were given another year to comply with the law but the ideology of new life is what disturbs Father Walsh the most. "Pregnancy is the future of our country, the future of our civilization. How can we see that pregnancy is a problem?" The department of Health and Human Services estimates that 47 million women will have new access to eight preventive health benefits. "The government argued that not providing contraception is somehow or other discriminating against them because pregnancy inhibits there capacity for the work force." Father Walsh says the church will be encouraging its members to engage politically in the process. The mandate doesn't affect faith based groups yet but come Aug 1st of 2013, religious organizations may have to make some major decisions "The church will refuse to comply with the law and will be penalized for failure to comply so really in 2014 I think it's going to be the critical time." The Obama administration has given religious institutions a year to conform to the law. But conservative groups have a year before they can even challenge the mandate. "The argument is we need to get this into the hands of people because they are being discriminated against for employment opportunities. I mean, the madness of this thinking is the thing that upsets me the most." If the Supreme Court upholds the current law there will be a significant response from Catholic sectors. "Probably closure or suspension of some of its ministries in the community. Families are a lovely gift from God and for the community, but we have this anti-life mentality that has embedded itself in our social policy now that's extremely dangerous." Several Attorney Generals along with Jon Bruning filed a lawsuit to block the federal health care mandate, but a federal judge rejected the suit because the states failed to prove they would suffer immediate harm once the law was enacted. The Lawsuit that the hospitals filed is expected to be on hold until after the November election. |
On DemandLocal Gas Prices
Most Popular
KHASTV LinksKHASTV on FacebookWeather Closings |
Most Popular