Frederick's Free Talk

 
 
 
 
Local Religious Leader Talks About Affordable Care Act
Monday, February 18, 2013    
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Some religious groups plan to take legal action against the "Affordable Care Act."

The "Affordable Care Act" upset many Catholic institutions in the country because of the mandate requiring employers to provide birth control in their health insurance plans; but recently changes were made.

Now religious non-profit organizations that morally object to contraceptives, do not have to offer birth control in their health care plans. In turn, workers would receive a stand-alone private insurance policy providing birth control at no cost.

Monsignor Stuart Swetland, the Vice President of Catholic Identity at Mount Saint Mary's University, talks about the changes.

"We're hoping the administration will recognize religious liberty rights for all and provide other means by which their goals can be reached without violating the liberties of individuals or communities," Swetland said.

Many religious organizations say the contraceptive mandate violates their religious freedom and worry that their premium dollars might help pay for the stand alone plans.

"So I'm hoping the administration will recognize that the American tradition is to interpret religious liberty broadly and put very little restrictions on that exercise," Swetland said.

The Obama Administration feels they have gone out of their way to resolve the concerns of these religious institutions. Some religious groups plan to take legal action against the "Affordable Care Act."