Showdown Between Catholic Church, U.S. Government

BUFFALO – A government mandate requiring employers to provide health insurance that includes birth control pills has set the stage for a showdown between the Catholic Church and the U.S. Government.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec says the Dioces of Buffalo will not abide by what he calls an “unjust law.”

Kmiec says the new federal mandate violates the Church’s First Amendment right to a freedom of religion. The Bishop is asking pastors to bring the issue to their parishioners. According to a news release from the diocese, letters were distributed to all parishes in the eight counties of western New York, and priests throughout the diocese will be addressing this matter at Masses over the weekend.

“The administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty,” said Bishop Kmiec. “And, as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). We cannot, we will not, comply with this unjust law.”