so, you prefer to remain on the losing side, eh? On Aug 16, 11:40 am, "\"Lone Wolf\"" <[email protected]> wrote: > Health-care insurance and the Catholic Church--the sooner these two > abominations disappear the better > > On Aug 16, 3:49 am, dick thompson <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Home <http://www.washingtontimes.com/> > News > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news> > *National* > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/national> > > > Catholic college faces lawsuit over contraceptives > > > By Ben Conery <http://www.washingtontimes.com/staff/ben-conery/> > > (Contact <http://www.washingtontimes.com/staff/ben-conery/contact>) | > > Saturday, August 15, 2009 > > > * > > 0.5 > > 1.0 > > 1.5 > > 2.0 > > 2.5 > > 3.0 > > 3.5 > > 4.0 > > > Avg. Rating: 0 > > > * Bookmark and Share <http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=20> > > * > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/15/catholic-college-face...> > > > * Article > > * Comments (12) > > > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/15/catholic-college-face...> > > > * Print > > > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/15/catholic-college-face...> > > * [-][+] Font Size > > * E-Mail Alerts <http://www.washingtontimes.com/accounts/register/> > > * Tell a Friend > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/mailfriend/79/391787/fb82ca7978/> > > * Got a Question? > > > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/15/catholic-college-face...> > > * You Report > > > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/you_report?previous=%2Fnews%2F200...> > > * Click-2-Listen > > > > <javascript:OpenC2LWindow('WashingtonTimes','news_2009_aug_15_catholic-coll > > ege-faces-lawsuit-over-contraceptives',m_nwamp3_file,'OAS_sitepage='+OAS_si > > tepage,'WashingtonTimes','','Production');void(0);> > > * Yahoo! Buzz > > > > <http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzz?publisherurn=washington_ti859&guid=http%3A...> > > > The president of a small Catholic college said Friday he would rather > > close the school's doors than violate the church's teachings on > > contraception should the college lose the latest battle involving > > health-insurance laws and religious freedom. > > > The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has > > determined that Belmont Abbey College violated discrimination laws > > because the school's employee health insurance plan does not cover > > contraception, according to a letter the EEOC sent to the school. > > > "I hope it would never get this far," college President William K. > > Thierfelder told The Washington Times, "but if it came down to it we > > would close the college before we ever provided that." > > > The factual conclusion reached by the EEOC could be a precursor to the > > commission filing a federal discrimination lawsuit against the college. > > > "By denying prescription contraceptive drugs, [the college] is > > discriminating based on gender because only females take oral > > prescription contraceptives," the EEOC wrote in a letter to the North > > Carolina college. "By denying coverage, men are not affected, only women." > > > Mr. Thierfelder disputed that conclusion in a letter posted on the > > college's Web site: "Belmont Abbey College rejects the notion that by > > following the moral teachings of the Catholic Church we are > > discriminating against anyone. > > > "We are simply and honestly exercising the freedom of religion that is > > protected by the Constitution," he wrote. > > > In the highest profile case involving contraception coverage and > > Catholic institutions, California forced Catholic Charities to cover > > contraception as part of its employee health-insurance plan. The > > California Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that Catholic Charities was not a > > religious organization under state law, and therefore was required to > > provide contraception coverage under state law. > > > The EEOC investigation into Belmont Abbey stems from changes the college > > made to its employee health-insurance plan nearly two years ago. The > > changes came after the school discovered its plan had inadvertently been > > covering abortions, prescription contraception and elective > > sterilization procedures. > > > Mr. Thierfelder wrote at the time that "it is the clear, consistent, > > incontrovertible, public, official and authoritative teaching of the > > Roman Catholic Church that abortion, contraception and voluntary > > sterilization are actions which are intrinsically wrong and should not > > be undertaken because of their very nature." > > > The college, which has about 1,500 students, no longer covers > > contraceptive services as part of its employee health coverage. > > > "As a Roman Catholic institution, Belmont Abbey College is not able to > > and will not offer nor subsidize medical services that contradict the > > clear teaching of the Catholic Church," Mr. Thierfelder wrote in a > > letter explaining the changes. > > > In response, eight current and former faculty members - six men and two > > women, according to Mr. Thierfelder - filed a complaint with the EEOC > > charging that the changes to the insurance benefits violated the 1964 > > Civil Rights Act by discriminating against them based on religion or sex. > > > The letter the EEOC sent to the school said the plan change resulted in > > discrimination based on sex, but found no discrimination based on > > religion. The letter called only the contraception change > > discriminatory; it did not mention the change in coverage for abortion > > or elective sterilization. > > > A spokesman at the EEOC in Washington declined to comment Friday, saying > > that confidentiality laws prevent the agency even from confirming that a > > complaint has been received or an investigation was undertaken. > > > The letter said the next step is for the college and those who filed the > > complaint to try to reach an agreement to settle their differences. That > > seems unlikely, given Mr. Thierfelder's language. > > > If no agreement is reached, the EEOC could then file a federal lawsuit > > against the college. > > > [Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions! > > <http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2009/aug/15/catholi...> > > Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC > > > Read 12 comments > > > PanhandleTex > > > There are few college presidents who adhere to principles. I am > > encouraged by the stand of Belmont Abbey's president: Clea and > > unambigious principles separate those who bend and bow to government's > > dictates; and those that have a Higher Law. As a retired Presbyterian > > pastor, a Protestant, I stand with Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI > > and the moral teaching of the church against the dictates of the EEOC or > > the U.S. Government. Longdrycreek Ranch Texas Panhandle > > Mark as offensive > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/offensivecontent/manage/add/10/1...> > > > Gorgegirl > > > When will the Catholic Church finally come to it's senses, wake up and > > realize that our world is becoming over populated due to their outdated > > teachings? It is time women quit listening to old men in robes and make > > their own reproductive decisions. > > Mark as offensive > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/offensivecontent/manage/add/10/1...> > > > marccrotty > > > I applaud the college administration for standing with Church teachings > > and the truth. There is a precedent for vowing to close down the school > > if asked to compromise -- an entire county was sacrificed under Henry > > VIII when the Papacy's hand when forced on divorce. The Judas teachers > > on their staff are another concern. The threat of legal action developed > > internally -- no one came looking for them. If the professors are > > willing to seek government remedy to compromise Church moral teaching, > > what are saying in the classroom? > > Mark as offensive > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/offensivecontent/manage/add/10/1...> > > > NoTaDim > > > Gorgegirl, If you are truly concerned about overpopulation, find a > > Muslim website and comment about their way of life and beliefs. I > > believe having 15 + children per Muslim man would accomplish your goal. > > The Catholic church has it's beliefs and it's time to stand up to > > lawsuits and non believers who don't have the guts to face a real source > > of over population and poverty. If you have the guts to do that I have > > one word of advice, hang on to your head! > > Mark as offensive > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/offensivecontent/manage/add/10/1...> > > > coffic > > > The employees have a choice--find another job or pay for a plan which > > will cover contraceptives. Did they not know the stand of the Catholic > > Church? If they didn't, they are too stupid to hold jobs, so they should > > leave and make places for people with some degree of intelligence. I do > > agree, though, that those complaining about the Church policy should use > > birth control. The U.S. is turning into a country of self-serving morons. > > Mark as offensive > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/offensivecontent/manage/add/10/1...> > > > Higgy > > > Georgegirl if the college was muslim, like you, there would be no > > problem no matter what they did. > > Mark as offensive > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/offensivecontent/manage/add/10/1...> > > > mbalba2001 > > > The state must not force us Catholics to go against our religious > > beliefs. I agree wholeheartedly with President Thierfelder. It violates > > our religious freedom and conscience. > > Mark as offensive > > <http://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/offensivecontent/manage/add/10/1...> > > > mbalba2001 > > > gorgegirl Europe is losing population fast because widespread abortion > > laws being filled by Muslims who do not believe in abortion as we > > Catholics at home our loss is being compensated by inmigrants from > > Catholic countries who believe children are a beautiful gift from God > > Mark as offensive > > ... > > read more » --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
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