Texas Judge Exempts Colleges from ACA Mandate For Believing Contraceptives Cause Abortion
On Friday, Judge Lee Rosenthal, a United States District Court Judge appointed by George H. W. Bush granted East Texas Baptist University, Houston Baptist University, and Westminster Theological Seminary an injunction that will exempt them from the contraceptive coverage required under the Affordable Care Act. The judge found that even the amended requirements for religious organizations were not enough to safeguard their religious liberty, as any involvement (even bureaucratic paperwork) in the provision of certain contraceptive services makes them culpable in creating access to abortion.
Judge Rosenthal's decision is entirely based on the beliefs of the universities and seminary about conception and the way that certain contraceptives work. Because these organizations believe that Plan B and IUD's cause abortions they are exempt from provisions in the Affordable Care Act meant to ensure that all Americans have access to preventative healthcare. To be clear: their beliefs about how medicine works - not the way medicine actually works - are the basis for this injunction.
In her opinion, Judge Rosenthal explains that the three plaintiffs "believe" that emergency contraception (such as Plan B or Ella) and copper IUDs cause abortions by preventing fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus. They also believe that by being complicit in anything that provides access to these drugs, even if it isn't through their health insurance, they become culpable for the abortion that they believe takes place.
In creating better standards for health insurance, the Affordable Care Act recognizes the importance of preventative healthcare in reducing healthcare costs and maintaining a better quality of life. The provision of particular concern for these universities is the requirement that health insurance plans cover provide free access to contraceptives such as Plan B and the copper IUD as preventative healthcare. Both services are incredibly effective methods of preventing pregnancy, and increasing access to these methods of contraception could be revolutionary for reproductive health across the country.
More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14586/texas-judge-exempts-colleges-from-aca-mandate-for-believing-contraceptives-cause-abortion .
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