Roundup: Here's Your Birth Control. Use It and We'll Fire You!

Roundup: Here’s Your Birth Control. Use It and We’ll Fire You!

Aug 12, 2010, 10:18am

Robin Marty

Birth control is now available to employees of Catholic Churches in Madison, Wisconsin. But using it could get you fired.

“Ok, we’ll provide you with this coverage, but don’t use it!”

That appears to be the stance the Catholic Church is taking in Madison, Wisconsin, where a new law requiring that employers offer contraceptives in their health plans has just gone into effect. And the church is not happy about it at all. Via Newsradio 620:

Under a new state law, the Madison Catholic Diocese must offer birth control in its health insurance plan.

But a diocesan spokesman warns employees who use it could be fired. Brent King says contraceptives go against Catholic teachings:

“And with the mandate that all of these policies need to have contraception coverage in it, it’s kind of in the face of directly in the face of what we believe,” King said.

Reproductive rights activists are applauding the change, especially due to the fact that the majority of Catholics use birth control for family planning. From KansasCity.com:

Reproductive health advocates, including the Washington-based Catholics for Choice, criticized the stand, calling birth control “basic health care.”

“The reality is the vast majority of Catholics use contraceptive family planning,” said David Nolan of Catholics for Choice. “And making them access it elsewhere or pay full price because they can’t get it through their insurance is a needless barrier.”

Because birth control is so popular, the church has come up with a master plan on how to deal with employees that might make full use of their benefits, a kind of contraceptive don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

[P]eople who work for the diocese must sign a morals clause agreeing to abide by Catholic teachings. King says they would only fire someone who is especially vocal about using birth control:

“No one would ever be terminated for sinning. We’re all sinners. It would take a very public defiance of what the church believes and teaches for someone to ever get terminated.”

But don’t worry, folks. You won’t get fired right away if you are caught using prohibited drugs. According to the Wisconsin State Journal:

Such a step [termination] would be taken only if the employee, after being counseled, refused to get in line with Catholic teaching, King said. “It wouldn’t be the first thing we do,” he said.

Mini-Roundup: When youth want to know more about sex, they ask their friends. When they want to know more about preventing pregnancy, they ask their doctors.

August 11, 2010

Supporters Of Colo. ‘Personhood’ Initiative Unveil Strategy To Gather Support – Medical News Today

Economic crisis rekindles Irish debate on abortion – Reuters UK

Carney calls Marino’s claims he ignored abortion vote ‘desperation’ – Towanda Daily Review

Ga. GOP Gubernatorial Race Hinges On Abortion, Other Social Issues – Medical News Today

Poll: Young Hispanics Less Likely to Be Catholic – ABC News

UNC Health Plan Makes Students Pay for Abortion Coverage – Watchdog

Anti-abortion bus tour heading for Evansville Thursday – Evansville Courier & Press

Florida Poll Has Pro-Life Rubio, Pro-Abortion Crist Splitting Senate Race Lead – LifeNews.com

English-Speaking Hispanics More Likely Pro-Abortion Than Spanish Speakers – LifeNews.com

Planned Parenthood Boycott List Now Has Pro-Abortion Firms AOL, Hilton, ING – LifeNews.com

Colorado Senate Race Will Now Feature Pro-Life Ken Buck, Pro-Abortion Bennet – LifeNews.com