An urgent health care call to action from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops headquarters building in Washington, D.C.)

Conscience Rights Violated by Sweeping HHS Contraceptive Mandate

In implementing the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the new health care reform law), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a rule requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception and sterilization as "preventive services" for women.  The mandate even forces individuals and groups with religious or moral objections to purchase and provide such coverage if they are to receive or provide health coverage at all.  This poses an unprecedented threat to individual and institutional religious freedom.