conscience clause
President Obama: Contraception Mandate Statement
President Obama announced a compromise today to a controversial policy requiring certain religious organizations cover contraception services for employees. The institutions will now be able to shift responsibility for contraception coverage to health insurance companies.
BREAKING: White House Amends Birth Control Mandate: Contraceptive Coverage to be Offered Directly from Insurers
by Jodi Jacobson, Editor in Chief, RH Reality Check
February 10, 2012 - 10:38am (Print)
UPDATED: Today, the White House did the right thing by women and for public health and human rights. Despite deep concerns the White House has decided on a plan that will enable women to get contraceptive coverage directly through their insurance plans.
Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson
The Hawaii Compromise? White House to Announce Change In Birth Control Mandate
by Jodi Jacobson, Editor in Chief, RH Reality Check
February 10, 2012 - 9:14am (Print)
This morning, news reports indicate an announcement may be imminent from President Obama on a "compromise" on the birth control mandate. To recap, the mandate requires that all employer-based health insurance offer coverage without a co-pay of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods.
Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson
An Open Letter to the President of Georgetown University on the Battle Over Contraceptive Coverage
by Erin Matson, National Organization for Women
February 9, 2012 - 4:07pm (Print)
As a graduate of Georgetown University and advocate for women, I write to express my horror with the actions of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the matter of contraceptive coverage and to ask you directly to initiate a conversation within the Georgetown community, as well as with the bishops who claim to speak on the behalf of women students, employees and our dependents.
Who's Zoomin' Who? Moving on From "Religious Freedom" Diversion, USCCB Wants to Exempt All Employers From Birth Control Mandate
by Jodi Jacobson, Editor in Chief, RH Reality Check
February 9, 2012 - 9:21am (Print)
Religious freedom? Who's zoomin' who? As I noted in a piece published last night and now confirmed by further comments from representatives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the far right uterine police are aiming to exclude everyone from contraceptive coverage, not just religious institutions.
Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson
The White House's Dangerous Dance With the Birth Control Mandate
by Jodi Jacobson, Editor in Chief, RH Reality Check
February 8, 2012 - 11:04pm (Print)
This week, on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Obama campaign senior advisor David Axelrod signaled that the White House, having finally decided to include coverage of birth control as part of primary health care benefits under health reform after studying it for well over a year, is now "willing to compromise." Many of my colleagues disagree with my take on the situation, but I am worried that in the end the White House may not hold firm.
Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson
When Bishops Become Bullies
February 8, 2012 - 6:36pm (Print)
The arrogance of the 350 Bishops of the US Catholic Church is mind-boggling. Though they are facing bankruptcy in many states because of the shameful tradition of priests molesting children, they still have the nerve to claim a right to make moral decisions for women. It is time for the women of America to say no to the bullying of a tiny group of men who will never know what it means to make tough choices about pregnancy; or have a baby; or raise a child; or scramble to care for a family.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio Introduces Legislation to Overturn ACA Birth Control Mandate
February 8, 2012 - 5:17pm (Print)
It seems that no reproductive justice victory can stand free of assault by the anti-choice set. On Monday, January 30, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla) introduced legislation that would overturn the Department of Health and Human Services mandate requiring religiously-affiliated organizations to provide free birth control with their employee health plan packages.
Follow Annamarya Scaccia on Twitter, @sitswithpasta
Birth Control And Government: The Right of Refusal Should Belong to Women
by Nancy Kaufman, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)
February 7, 2012 - 4:32pm (Print)
NCJW and our colleagues in the faith community understand that this is an issue of religious liberty -- although there are differing religious views on the use of contraception, it should be up to women to decide on whether and when to use contraception based on their own beliefs and needs.
Follow Nancy Kaufman on Twitter, @NCJWCEO
Who Decides? Delays and Barriers to Accessing Birth Control at Georgetown University
by Sandra Fluke, Georgetown University Law Students for Reproductive Justice
February 7, 2012 - 1:48pm (Print)
Although Georgetown’s student health insurance doesn’t cover contraception, it does cover birth control pills when they’re prescribed for medical reasons other than preventing pregnancy. But barriers to access illustrate the consequences for women’s health when university administrators dictate which reasons for a birth control prescription are the “right” reasons.
