HHS has finalized its rules regarding the requirements for organization to participate in and provide health care insurance/coverage for its employees.  As noted in the news and from press releases by the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB), the Church has registered its strong objections to the mandate to provide elements of health care coverage that are against the moral teaching of the Church. The regulations require the church and church-affiliated organization to provide coverage in the area of artificial birth control and abortion services.

The rules are now in place and require the Church to comply. One might ask, “Surely there is a exemption clause provided in the regulation?”  And there is – any institution that does “religious work” is exempt.  The problem is the new regulations define what constitutes religious work. Under the regulations “religious work” is that done by a recognized religious organization by it members for the primary purpose of its members. The work of a Catholic hospital does not qualify for an exemption – nor would virtually any Catholic school, university, soup kitchen, local Catholic Charity service, or any other Catholic social service agency. There are serious questions whether the Diocese of St Petersburg qualifies for an exemption. Continue reading →