Birth control act upsets churches

By: Mariella Roque/Staff Writer

Religious groups have taken up issue with President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on account of the provision that employers be required to cover the cost of birth control medication for their labor force.

This caused a number of organizations, including the Catholic Church, to denounce the reform as an infringement on their religious freedoms based on the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

“I think it has no constitutional basis, it’s an overreach of the federal government,” said Rigo Vega, a Catholic campus minister at the University. “Freedom of religion trumps health care.”

Many religious groups believe human life begins at conception. They feel contraceptives of any kind inhibit new life developing, and denounce their use.

“It could set a precedent for later infringement on religions,” Brian German, a senior majoring in history said. “This is very problematic.”

The Catholic Church also asked the dioceses to mention the mandate in their mass services, hoping to raise community awareness of the issue.

“I understand that [Catholics] might feel attacked,” Cherylin Bean, president of FIU’s chapter of Voices for Planned Parenthood said. “[But] it’s not just them that you have to think about—it’s women’s health.”

On Feb. 10, Obama announced a compromise concerning the growing controversy about the birth control mandate within his 2010 health care reform law.

In an attempt to quell the disagreement, Obama suggested shifting the cost of birth control from the employers to the insurance companies.

Both the Planned Parenthood Federation, a non-profit organization dedicated to women’s health, and the Catholic Health Association support the compromise.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops has yet to comment on the matter and many Catholic members still remain skeptical of the compromise.

Within the state of Florida, Senator Marco Rubio introduced in January, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a bill countering Obama’s birth control rule.

Under Rubio’s bill, religious hospitals, universities, as well as other employers who oppose contraceptive methods on the “basis of religious belief” will be able to refuse covering contraceptive methods for their employees.

“It’s not a money problem,” said Janio Arrowsmith, a junior in liberal studies and member of the Catholic Student Union. “It’s a principle problem.”

The Planned Parenthood website currently has a section dedicated to the plan called ‘Birth Control Matters!’ It asks readers to “help [them] protect access to birth control without co-pays,” providing them with information on how to contact the president.

“[Birth control] is for other medical purposes, too—not just pregnancy prevention,” Bean said.

Birth control today is used by women of all ages to prevent pregnancy, as well as to regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce acne and cramps and cure ovarian cysts.

“[Birth control] falls in the essential category [of health care],” said Bean.

University Health Services provides students with several contraceptive methods, including free condoms and affordable birth control pills.

“The more options women are offered, the better,” Oscar Loynaz, director of UHS, said.

The FIU pharmacy currently sells approximately 450 cycles of birth control a month.

“[Birth control at FIU] is very available,” Ana Slack, nurse practitioner at UHS said. “The University usually has cheap [contraceptive] medication.”

UHS provides birth control pills ranging from $12 to $50, according to Gail Rice, a nurse practitioner.

“In some cases women have to decide between birth control and rent,” said Bean.

“I think [the plan] would be very beneficial,” Camila Pham, senior health educator for UHS, said. “If it goes through, it would be positive.”

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