Lipinski: Abortion, Contraception Health Plan Rules for Opposed Groups Violates Rights
While visiting Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School Monday, Congressman Dan Lipinski praised Catholic schools’ role in education, while voicing displeasure with the health care bill requirement.
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U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski may be pro-life, but he supports a form of choice when it comes to birth control and abortion treatment. The Illinois Democrat believes schools, non-profits and other groups openly aligned with religious organizations have the right to not offer contraception, birth control or abortion-inducing drugs as part of their health insurance benefits.
The Democrat congressman recently expressed his disapproval with President Barack Obama’s Jan. 20 notice that private employers will have to cover birth control, even those who are religiously opposed to such treatment.
“The exemption is so narrow that only the churches themselves where Catholic priests are administrators will be exempt,” Lipinski said Monday. “Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and any Catholic school, Catholic hospitals, Catholic charities will all have to cover free of charge things that the Catholic Church and other religious organizations don’t believe in. I really think that’s a violation of conscience rights.”
A few opt-out options have been discussed in Washington D.C., leading up to what Lipinski predicted would be backlash to the requirement. He said the House is likely to do something, but was less certain about Senate action.
“I’m not someone who is always out there screaming about the government forcing us to do things we don’t want to do,” Lipinski said. “I know it’s important to be careful about government rules and freedom, but this is the first time I’ve been really shocked that something is being forced, that people are forced to do something they don’t believe in.”
In contrast, Lipinski offered words of praise to students, staff and families of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School Monday during a visit, as part of a weeklong tour to area Catholic schools.
For the sixth year in a row, Lipinski introduced a House resolution on Capitol Hill acknowledging efforts by Catholic schools to “produce academically successful students, foster a commitment to service, family, and community, and accept students from all faiths and backgrounds,” he said in a release.
Lipinski gave CJB a copy of the resolution and spoke to the whole school via a televised broadcast to classrooms, recorded by CJB students.
“I’m very proud to be a graduate of Catholic elementary and high schools,” Lipinski said during the broadcast. “Catholic schools mean a lot to me. I hope the kids understand what the principals, priests, teachers, administrators and your parents, all the sacrifices they make to have you here.”
During the week, he also visited St. Michael's School, Everest Academy in Lemont, St. Andrew School in Romeoville, St. Linus School in Oak Lawn and St. Symphorosa School in Chicago.
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Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School
9250 167th St, Orland Hills, IL -
St. Michael School
14355 Highland Ave, Orland Park, IL
OakLawnBill
7:51 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Isn't it almost criminal in this day and age to actively campaign against birth control? If it is against your religion and it bothers you, don't use it. But Bill has his health care.
cogwheel
9:07 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
More government intrusion into something that should be personal choice.
Denise Du Vernay
8:25 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Lipinski expresses shock "that people are forced to do something they don’t believe in"? Newsflash: Employers are not "people" and no one is being forced to USE birth control. An employer should have no say on the fecundity of its employees.
Russ
10:47 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wow Denise,I had to look (fecundity) that one up.
This is a hypocritical stand by The Catholic church.They hate abortion ,they are totally pro life but,they don't want to allow free contraception to their employees.The more contraception and safe sex are promoted there is less chance for aborting an unwanted pregnancy.Schools,hospitals, charities,and churches employ people that are not of the Catholic faith. Why take their healthcare choice away?
cogwheel
3:15 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Nothing is free. Me , or someone, is paying for the "free". I don't want to pay for someone else's "free".
Karen
2:02 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Catholic Church believes sex if for procreation only. They want everyone to be like the Duggar family. Birth control is most often not covered by insurance, but Viagra is. How many women got turned away at pharmacies when the pharmacist' religious beliefs stood in the way of providing health care to patients? Health Care is between patient and doctor, not the employers' or pharmacists religious beliefs.
OakLawnBill
2:35 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Congress has this coverage already.
Grunty
5:01 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Birth control can and is used by many women to control PMDD and debilitating menstrual cramping, even in instances where the husband has had a vasectomy or is otherwise sterile. It should be covered the same as anything else in a medical plan that is designed to improve the quality of life of the individual.
Andrea Williams
8:14 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
I agree with several of these posts in that there are countless problems with the 'just don't have sex' approach as a turnkey solution to reproductive and sexaul health issues; however, employer provided health insurance is a benefit and is offered at the discretion of the employer. If you don't like the compensation package provided by your employer, you are free to go work somewhere else. It's not up to the government to tell employers what mix of benefits they need to offer their employees as a part of their total compensation package.
OakLawnBill
8:56 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
While I do see your viewpoint has validity, the government already sets many standards. Miminum age requirements, minimum wages, mandatory breaks, ect. Using your argument, the Church can always leave the country if they don't accept its laws. Since the church enjoys the benefit of tax exemption of corporate income and real estate, they more than most should have an obligation to provide care for their employees.
Russ
12:19 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Agreed Bill,
contraception decreases the need for abortion .Isn't that what everyone wants?
Andrea Williams
1:43 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Sort-of....I think the church (at least this one) wants people to not have sex unless the intent is to procreate. I'm not saying this is a viable solution...just stating what I see to be their position.
Ben Feldheim
4:07 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Thanks folks. Interesting points raised all around on an issue that's far from simple. If we really are going to have a church and state separation, how can institutions be told what to cover in benefits? And then there's the fact that birth control can be used for health reasons, and not always as contraception.
Russ
7:48 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
The church has institutions that meet the needs of all people no matter what religion .The people that go to a catholic school ,hospital or benefit from their charities don't have to be catholic.They don't have to be in communion with the church nor do their employees.So ,I don't think the church and state argument holds water in this argument.
Tom Terwilliger
12:49 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
What a bunch of half wits!
Russ
9:42 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
ummm, which half are you insulting?