The controversy over a federal birth control mandate continues to simmer within metro Atlanta's Catholic community.
Earlier this week, the principal of a Catholic high school in Roswell sent an email blast to parents containing information about the mandate -- part of the federal health overhaul -- from the Atlanta Archdiocese. The message, basically a bulletin that the archdiocese sent to about 110,000 Catholic households, urged them to contact their elected representatives to fight the mandate requiring the insurers of faith-based employers to provide health care coverage for birth control.
While it's not unusual for schools to be included in such emails, this time Blessed Trinity High School principal Frank Moore decided to pass it on to parents.
"I forwarded this one because it's such a hot topic and it's something those of us who work for the church are very concerned about," Moore said.
He added that he thinks the mandate -- which exempts churches but originally called on faith-based employers such as schools, hospitals and charities to provide health care coverage for birth control -- "violates the separation of church and state."
The church continued to maintain resistance to the mandate following President Barack Obama's compromise to place the responsibility of paying for coverage on insurers instead of the faith-based employers. Critics say the move is still an affront to their religious liberties.
"[The mandate] would force the Catholic Church to violate our conscience by paying for abortion-inducing drugs and contraceptives that we deeply and morally object to because of our faith and belief in the sanctity of life," said Pat Chivers, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, which is self-insured.
But Gabriela Piscopo, a devoted Catholic from Alpharetta, said the government should make insurance companies pay for birth control.
"It doesn't have to do with freedom of worshiping," she wrote in an email. "It has to do with equal rights for all."
The mother of four children says she used birth control and planned her pregnancies.
"Women should make the decision on when to have babies," Piscopo said. "I personally don't support abortion but understand that others believe differently."
Bridget Kurt opposes the mandate because it would require employers to “participate in covering things they don’t believe in."
“Not all women consider contraceptives to be part of health care,” the Atlanta marketing executive said. “My whole family uses natural family planning. Some have two kids, some have five kids. It works. It doesn’t’ mean that if you use natural family planning, you’re going to have 15 kids.”
Jackie Mullen, 23, said she thinks the position of the church "doesn't represent the opinion of most Catholic women."
Mullen, a lifelong Catholic who grew up in Lawrenceville and is now a doctoral student in Albany, N.Y., said having children is a "huge financial responsibility" and the use of birth control should not be taken out of the hands of people who don't have a lot of money.
"I understand the position of the church," she said, "but it neglects to realize that a lot of women aren't in a position to support that many children."
About the Author
