Bishop Terry LaValley, Photo: Diocese of Ogdensburg
(02/06/12) The top Roman Catholic official in the North Country is blasting the Obama administration for requiring churches to provide health insurance to employees that includes services such as contraception and sterilization.
In
a letter to the Diocese of Ogdensburg, Bishop Terry LaValley said the Federal
rule "strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all
citizens of every faith."
The
Catholic church opposes a wide range of legal healthcare services, including
abortion and contraception.
According
to Bishop LaValley, faith-based employers should be given a religious exemption
from healthcare rules that were passed as part of President Obama's healthcare
reform initiative.
According
to the letter, the Diocese of Odensburg won't comply with law, a move that
could lead to Federal penalties.
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