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Catholics Support Access to Contraception under Affordable Care Act

The bishops have portrayed the Obama Administration’s decision to require most employers to cover contraception without copays as an all-out attack on Catholicism and conscience rights. In shouting this from the pulpit, they are threatening to drown out the voice of the majority of Catholics who believe that women should be able to access birth control using their company's health insurance.


Contact the White House
The bishops and their allies are hard at work, sending messages to the White House in an attempt to repeal the no-copay contraception coverage provision. Contact President Obama today to let him know that the bishops do not speak for you or for the vast majority of Catholics who support contraception.

Tell Your Local Media That the Bishops Do Not Speak For All Catholics
Editorial boards and columnists throughout the country are commenting on this decision. Write to your local newspaper and explain that you support conscience rights for people over institutions.

Tell Us Your Story
Have you talked about this with fellow members of your parish? Were you read a letter at Mass about this decision? We're collecting comments, reflections and stories to share with our colleagues and with the White House. Read submissions from Catholics from across the United States.

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Statements from Catholics for Choice

12 April 2012 - Bishops Seek to Redefine Religious Liberty

1 March 2012 - Supporters of the Blunt Amendment “are on the wrong side of history,” says Catholic leader

16 February 2012 - Hearing on Religion and Freedom of Conscience Was “Misleading, Unbalanced and Inaccurate.”

10 February 2012 - Campaign by US Bishops Forces White House to Concede; Women’s Access to Birth Control Is Now “On a Wing and a Prayer”

8 February 2012 - More than Twenty Major Religious Leaders Issue Statement in Support of Current Policy on Contraceptive Coverage in Healthcare Reform

7 February 2012 - Memo: Catholics Use and Support Access to Contraception [PDF]

2 February 2012 - The Bishops’ Lobby Shouts, “Jump”; Senator, Opinion Writers Ask, “How High?”

20 January 2012 - President Obama Finally Does the Right Thing for Women

21 December 2011 - Bishops Continue to Lobby on Healthcare Reform

6 December 2011 - Congressional Briefing Reveals the Real Story behind Attempts to Expand Refusal Clauses in Healthcare Delivery

28 November 2011 - President Obama, Don’t Turn Your Back on Women

2 November 2011 - Catholics for Choice Urges Congress to Protect Every Person's Conscience

30 September 2011 - Decision Time at Health and Human Services

29 September 2011 - Catholics Support Insurance Coverage for Family Planning

26 September 2011 - Catholic Organizations Expose What the Bishops Won’t Tell You about Family Planning

1 August 2011 - Catholic Leader Condemns Expansive Refusal Clause in HHS Ruling

26 July 2011 - Catholic Organizations Call on Secretary Sebelius to Include Contraception as a Preventive Method under Affordable Care Act (ACA)

20 July 2011 - Catholics Support IOM’s Recommendations on Birth Control Coverage under Affordable Care Act

Catholics for Choice in the News

April/May 2012 - What America Can Learn From Ireland

23 March 2012 - Rallies in Georgia and around U.S. oppose contraception ruling

6 March 2012 - Should there be a contraception mandate?

23 February 2012 - Reclaiming religious freedom

22 February 2012 - Women to Congress: Contraception Conversation Isn’t Over

19 February 2012 - Contraception mandate debate pits Catholics against one another

18 February 2012 - Many Catholics say choice of using contraception should be private despite church's edict

16 February 2012 - Catholics and Contraception: Letters From the Laity Paint a Very Different Picture Than the Bishops Want You to See

13 February 2012 - Catholics for Choice defend Obama health plan

10 February 2012 - Did the bishops forget about women?

10 February 2012 - Birth control battle pits women against women

10 February 2012 - White House Unveils Contraception Accommodation Plan to Reproductive Rights Advocates

10 February 2012 - Jon O'Brien on contraception controversy

10 February 2012 - Obama cede ante católicos por los anticonceptivos

9 February 2012 - Some Religious Groups Voice Support for Obama's Contraception Mandate Despite Outcry

8 February 2012 - Religious groups back birth-control mandate

8 February 2012 - Bishops Reject Proposed Compromise with Obama on Contraception Coverage

8 February 2012 - Whose Conscience?

8 February 2012 - Catholic Bishops Oppose “Hawaii Compromise” on Birth Control Access

8 February 2012 - Ladies interfering in men's business

7 February 2012 - It's a matter of conscience

7 February 2012 - Battle continues over mandated contraception coverage

5 February 2012 - Taken for granted no more

4 February 2012 - Workers, not Catholic hierarchy, should choose their health care

1 February 2012 - Obama Ruling on Access to Birth Control Provokes Attack from GOP and Religious Right

February 2012 - The Bishops, Obama and Religious Freedom

31 January 2012 - Marco Rubio Writes Bill To Override Birth Control Mandate

27 January 2012 - Catholic or not, give women choice

20 January 2012 - Obama Administration Announces New Decision On Birth Control, To Chagrin Of Religious Groups

2 December 2011 - Women's rights at risk

30 November 2011 - Bishops vs. Women: Which Side Is Obama On?

26 November 2011 - Birth control

22 November 2011 - Both Sides Expect Obama to Side with Bishops on Contraception Coverage

5 November 2011 - A New Battle Over Contraception

2 November 2011 - Bishops seek broader health care exemption for birth control

1 November 2011 - The Men Behind the War on Women

20 September 2011 - Fifty-plus groups ask Obama to clarify position on ‘federally funded employment discrimination’

7 August 2011 - Preventative care must include birth control

2 August 2011 - US women win in health reforms

1 August 2011 - Feds Order Insurers To Cover Birth Control Free Of Charge To Women

22 July 2011 - Jon O'Brien on "Living Room with Chris Welch"

In the News

12 April 2012 - Catholic bishops issue rallying cry for 'religious freedom'

8 April 2012 - Catholic leaders remain critical of Obama administration

2 April 2012 - Obamacare 'Abortion Surcharge': The Facts Behind The Rumor

26 March 2012 - Catholic Bishops Lose a Big Battle Over Contraception

24 March 2012 - ‘Religious Freedom’ Rally Sets Stage for 1st Amendment Collision

16 March 2012 - Religious exemptions grow in contraception mandate

14 March 2012 - Bishops reject Obama contraception compromise

7 March 2012 - House slowing down on contraception legislation

6 March 2012 - Young Catholic women back birth control use

1 March 2012 - Poll: Most Americans Support Contraception Rule

1 March 2012 - Senate Rejects Step Targeting Coverage of Contraception

28 February 2012 - House Judiciary Hearing Takes on Contraception Mandate

28 February 2012 - Kathleen Sebelius: Rule coming soon on contraception coverage

26 February 2012 - Birth Control Rule May Take Center Stage This Week

23 February 2012 - States, Catholics sue over contraceptives rule

22 February 2012 - Contraception coverage fights spread to states

16 February 2012 - Passions Flare as House Debates Birth Control Rule

16 February 2012 - Staffer: Bishops 'will not relent' on contraception compromise

15 February 2012 - Rep. Issa to air bishops’ complaints

14 February 2012 - Why Free Birth Control Will Not Hike the Cost of Your Insurance

14 February 2012 - Bishops plan aggressive expansion of birth-control battle

14 February 2012 - Bishops’ contraception objections fail their church’s own moral reasoning

11 February 2012 - Bishops Reject White House’s New Plan on Contraception

10 February 2012 - The White House explains its contraceptives compromise

10 February 2012 - Obama Birth Control Compromise Announced

10 February 2012 - Theologians see need for broader discussion on conscience

10 February 2012 - President Obama boxed in on birth control

9 February 2012 - Students At Catholic Colleges Protest Lack Of Access To Birth Control

9 February 2012 - Catholic Bishops Demand All Businesses Be Given The Right To Deny Women Contraception Coverage

9 February 2012 - Large Catholic Institutions Offered Contraception Even Before Required To Do So

7 February 2012 - White House open to compromise over contraception: adviser

7 February 2012 - Obama risks Catholic vote with birth-control mandate

6 February 2012 - FAQ: The health reform law and contraception

3 February 2012 - 'Real Catholics' not opposed to birth control

29 January 2012 - Catholics hear protests of Obama health ruling at Mass

20 January 2012 - Obama Reaffirms Insurers Must Cover Contraception

20 January 2012 - Obama holds firm on contraception coverage

7 December 2011 - Contraceptive rule a pill for Obama

3 November 2011 - Congress considers conscience rights in health care

20 July 2011 - Should health insurance plans cover birth control?

19 July 2011 - IOM Panel Recommends Insurance Coverage For Contraception

19 July 2011 - Panel Recommends Coverage for Contraception

Allies Speak Out

16 April 2012 - Puzzled by backlash

6 April 2012 - Denial of birth control only adds to public’s burden

3 April 2012 - Church views on women wrong

3 April 2012 - Politics has no place in pulpits or bedrooms

2 April 2012 - Rhetoric needs update

2 April 2012 - The line on religious exemptions

1 April 2012 - Church is imposing its beliefs on others

31 March 2012 - Tell bishops to stay out of politics

30 March 2012 - How exactly is faith under attack?

30 March 2012 - Free will

28 March 2012 - Student health plans also provide for contraception

28 March 2012 - Contraceptive coverage does not infringe on religious freedom

22 March 2012 - Reproductive health is a woman's right

21 March 2012 - Government is providing access to contraception, not a mandate to use it: A letter to the editor

21 March 2012 - Catholic bishops inconsistently apply conscience principle

21 March 2012 - Speaking out for women and First Amendment

20 March 2012 - Freedom for and from religion

19 March 2012 - Theocratic rule

17 March 2012 - Why Catholic bishops need to stay out of politics

16 March 2012 - Contraception politics makes good works difficult

16 March 2012 - Mandate to provide coverage isn't a mandate to use coverage

13 March 2012 - Slurs won't silence women

13 March 2012 - Chose to be responsible mother

12 March 2012 - Hormonal Contraceptives are Health Care

12 March 2012 - Letters to the editor

11 March 2012 - Letters to the editor

11 March 2012 - Letter: Thinks church Mass needed parental warning

9 March 2012 - Letter: Contraception not religious issue

8 March 2012 - Running interference

8 March 2012 - Majority agree that birth control should be covered at no cost

7 March 2012 - Birth control is a fundamental need and should be covered by insurance

7 March 2012 - Constitutional Dilemma on Birth Control

6 March 2012 - Contraceptive coverage is appropriate

5 March 2012 - Dictating employee health coverage

4 March 2012 - The Politicization Of Catholicism

4 March 2012 - When the Catholic Church nearly approved the pill

4 March 2012 - Health vs. faith: The debate over insurance for contraceptives

4 March 2012 - Catholics themselves will be beneficiaries

4 March 2012 - Birth control

2 March 2012 - Speaking out about birth control

2 March 2012 - Stop politicizing women’s health

1 March 2012 - My Voice: Catholic women want affordable birth control, too

1 March 2012 - It's about personal liberty

28 February 2012 - Confused about religious freedom

21 February 2012 - Religious liberty and credibility

21 February 2012 - Religious liberty doesn't void other rights

21 February 2012 - Catholics' rules are not the rules for everyone

21 February 2012 - Church is 'unbalanced' in the issues focuses on

20 February 2012 - Good Catholics can still disagree with bishops

20 February 2012 - What an abortifacient is -- and what it isn't

20 February 2012 - Regulations don't constitute a war on religion

20 February 2012 - GOP birth control stance not politically smart

19 February 2012 - Abortion control

17 February 2012 - Letter: Catholic leaders' outrage over health rule 'odd'

16 February 2012 - Bishop is confusing hospital with church

16 February 2012 - Catholics face tough choice

15 February 2012 - Contraception's con men

15 February 2012 - Birth Control Blasphemy: Contraceptive Hysteria Grips Congress and the Religio-Patriarchy

15 February 2012 - Women's choices should decide women's health

14 February 2012 - Statement on Insurance Mandate from Faculty of John Carroll University

13 February 2012 - Catholic bishops cry wolf on contraception

13 February 2012 - Why the bishops will never be satisfied

13 February 2012 - The Bishops' Obsession With The Sex Lives Of Others

13 February 2012 - Obama's Birth Control "Compromise"

13 February 2012 - Birth Control Debate: Why Catholic Bishops Have Lost Their Grip on U.S. Politics—and Their Flock

13 February 2012 - The bishops go off the deep end

12 February 2012 - What? Birth control? Again?

12 February 2012 - It would be wrong to deny them coverage other women have

10 February 2012 - The Catholic Church's Game With Women's Health

11 February 2012 - Beyond Pelvic Politics

10 February 2012 - My Take: Why I'm a Catholic for contraception

10 February 2012 - A rule that protects women and respects faith

10 February 2012 - Obama/Catholic Contraception Controversy Boils Down to Workers’ Rights

10 February 2012 - The Hawaii Compromise? White House to Announce Change In Birth Control Mandate

10 February 2012 - The bishops: One way on a two-way street

10 February 2012 - War on birth control

10 February 2012 - Not church's choice

10 February 2012 - Contraception rules must respect religion, health

10 February 2012 - Letters: Religion and contraception

10 February 2012 - Catholic bishops haven't persuaded their flocks on contraception

9 February 2012 - Catholic Bishops Demand Corporate Personhood

9 February 2012 - Contraception choices and the law

9 February 2012 - Whose rights are being denied in birth control debate?

8 February 2012 - Why the bishop is wrong

8 February 2012 - Many Catholics back birth control decision

8 February 2012 - The Fight Millennials Never Expected—Birth Control

8 February 2012 - War on contraception heats up health-reform debate

8 February 2012 - Church, state and contraception

8 February 2012 - O'Brien's quixotic fight

8 February 2012 - Don't inject religion

8 February 2012 - Time for the White House to end the contraception conversation with Catholic leaders

8 February 2012 - Back to Barefoot and Pregnant

8 February 2012 - Religious Freedom and Contraception

8 February 2012 - My letter re the RCC, birth control and health insurance

8 February 2012 - Male Catholic Spokesmen—butt out!

7 February 2012 - Birth control a matter of public health, women's choice

7 February 2012 - Little late for birth-control debate

7 February 2012 - Contraception decision not attack on religion

7 February 2012 - Why the Birth-Control Mandate Makes Sense

7 February 2012 - The Church is Taking Employees' Religious Freedom Away

6 February 2012 - Paying for birth control

6 February 2012 - O’Malley: ‘Too much hyperventilating’ over contraception controversy

5 February 2012 - The Church and the Birth Control Ruling

5 February 2012 - State, not church rules on same-sex marriage issue

4 February 2012 - Bishop is wrong on health rules

4 February 2012 - Bishops don't speak for most Catholics on contraception

4 February 2012 - Bishops should not insert politics into Mass

4 February 2012 - Church gets issue wrong

3 February 2012 - Equitable compromise: Faith-based employees deserve the same coverage

3 February 2012 - Reproductive Rights Redux

3 February 2012 - Meds not employer's business

2 February 2012 - Catholic Church’s unfair attack against Obama

2 February 2012 - Catholics need to preach what we practice

2 February 2012 - Lines are tough to draw in Catholic Church contraceptive debate

2 February 2012 - The Truth About Contraception, Obamacare And The Church

2 February 2012 - Rubio's bill imposes religious agenda in workplace

1 February 2012 - Contraception Isn't Meat

31 January 2012 - Freedom of religion for whom?

31 January 2012 - Catholic bishops hypocrites in birth control controversy

31 January 2012 - Obama Stands Up to Bishops. Finally.

31 January 2012 - It's a choice

29 January 2012 - Right decision on birth control

28 January 2012 - Should contraception coverage be required?

26 January 2012 - Disregard disregarding the mandate

25 January 2012 - The unconscionable consequences of conscience exemptions

25 January 2012 - The Difference Between Viagra and the Pill

23 January 2012 - Bishops' conscience model makes light of practical reason

20 January 2012 - Birth control decision defends religious liberty