Posted on 10/20/2006 6:40:09 AM PDT by presidio9
Catholic and other religious social service groups must provide contraceptive coverage to their employees even if they consider contraception a sin, according to yesterday's ruling by the state's highest court.
The 6-0 decision by the state Court of Appeals hinged on defining Catholic Charities and the other nine religious groups suing the state to be social service agencies, rather than only operating as churches.
The organizations "believe contraception to be sinful," the decision states. "We must weigh against [their] interests in adhering to the tenets of their faith the state's substantial interest in fostering equality between the sexes, and in providing women with better health care."
The New York Catholic Conference is considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"We think this has never really been about contraception, we think it was to target the church and open the door for coverage of abortion," said Dennis Poust, spokesman for the Catholic conference.
The court said the fact that the organizations hire employees outside their faith is a critical factor and they deserve the rights sought under the law.
"That ought to be offensive to anyone of faith," Poust said.
"I think it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of Catholicism, which teaches that to be saved, Catholics must perform works of mercy," Poust said. "Faith alone is not enough . . . and the way the church performs its works of mercy is through its Catholic Charities, its schools and its hospitals -
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
ping
Wait til they have to pay for abortions!..........all Hell will break loose.........
In our lifetimes we will see Catholic hospitals closed down by the government for refusing to facilitate euthanasia.
The unintended conseqence should be that the church must then stop paying for all health insurance.
Hahahaha, this will only last until the religion of peace SATANIC cult of Islam is forced to do thing by the courts. THEN all hell will break loose.
My sister, a teacher at a Catholic school, was griping about it. Now I see that this will enable the archdiocese to avoid paying for birth control pills.
Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye appointed by Cuomo
Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt appointed by Cuomo
Hon. Victoria A. Graffeo appointed by Pataki
Hon. Susan Phillips Read appointed by Pataki
Hon. Robert S. Smith appointed by Pataki
Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Jr. appointed by Pataki
One of the Justices recused him/herself. I don't know which one.
Where are the separation of church and state folks?
This is wrong. Completely wrong.
Evil. Pure evil from the court.
"The unintended conseqence should be that the church must then stop paying for all health insurance."
That, or fire the nonCatholics
I left out:
Hon. Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick appointed by Cuomo
The reason for separation of church and state was to protect THE CHURCH from the state - not the other way around, as is popularly supposed. This is a great example of that truth.
Better not, we just went on my wifes policy (diocese employee).
Actually, the best solution would be for all employers to offer vouchers to offer everyone to buy their own health coverage.
Cuomo's a Democrap and Pataki is a .................................................................. small "d" Democrap !!!
Religious freedom is specifically addressed in the Constitution while "fostering equality between the sexes, and in providing women with better health care" is not.
Appeal this all the way to SCOTUS.
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