Statement from the Rockland County Catholic Coalition regarding the HHS Contraception Mandate
The United States, from its very beginnings, has been an example of true human freedom and religious liberty for all. During its history, in fact, our nation has sheltered countless people who came here from countries where their basic freedoms were either in danger or being denied altogether. Sadly, Americans now face a similar threat. At this moment our Catholic Church as well as other religious organizations in this country is in jeopardy.
On January 20, 2012 a ruling by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was made in conjunction with the recently approved healthcare law which identifying the “preventive services” that must be covered in most health insurance plans. This HHS mandate specifies “all FDA approved forms of contraception,” including sterilization and some abortifacients will not provide for a religious exemption for certain religious organizations – including most Catholic schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, and charitable agencies.
Since the initial ruling, on February 10, 2012 President Obama; has stated that “religious liberties” will be protected, however, the health care insurance providers of the Catholic Church and other religious organization will still have to provide individuals with contraceptives and abortifications. This “new” re-write is a little more than a shell game being played by the Obama Administration. Regardless of who pays either the Church organizations or the Churches health insurance provider – the requirements to pay any form of health insurance coverage for contraceptives, abortifications, and sterilizations will violate both their religious beliefs and their rights of conscience.
In the famous quote of Edmund Burke “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”, the Rockland County Catholic Coalition strongly encourages people of faith to write, call, and/or email President Obama, United States Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Charles Schulmer and Congressmen Eliot Engel. Please remind them that you treasure the right to religious liberty and one’s right to conscious. Also remind them that you are a Catholic and you VOTE and their lack of support for your “religious liberties and the protection of the Church will be remembered in November.”
Attached is a copy of a letter that can be used in an e-mail, written letter, or during a phone call to your elected official. For your convenience the following addresses of the Federal Executive and Legislative representatives of Rockland County have been added as well as HHS Secretary Sebelius and Deputy Secretary Core.
The White House:
President Barack Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Comments and Switchboard: 202-456-1111/ 202-456-1414 http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments
United States Congress:
U.S. Congressmen Nita Lowey – 17th District (Rockland/Westchester/Bronx Counties)
67 North Main Street, #101, New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-639-3485/ Fax: 845-634-4079
Office hours: Monday through Friday – 09:00am – 06:00 pm http://lowey.house.gov/
United States Senate:
U.S. Senator Charles Schulmer U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand
322 Hart Senate Office Building 478 Russell
Washington D.C. 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6542 Tel. (202) 224-4451
Fax: 202-228-3027 Fax (202) 228-0282
TTD: 202-224-0420 http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/
http://schumer.senate.gov/Public/contact.htm
Health and Human Services Commission Secretary:
Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of HHS Bill Core, Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. 200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201 Washington, D.C. 20201 kathleen.sebelius@hhs.gov
Secretary’s Operations Center (24/7) – Phone: (202) 619-7800
HHS Switchboard – Phone: (877) 696-677500
