Archbishop Aymond speaks out on funding birth control
Archbishop Gregory Aymond says insurance reform that wipes out the cost of co-pays for birth control and the morning after pill could lead to a clash between church and state.
The Obama Administration says beginning in 2013, health insurance plans will have to cover all birth control as preventative care.
Catholic Church leaders say the reform goes to far.
"Does an employer have a right to say this is against my conscience. It's against my religious beliefs and I can't offer this," Aymond questions. Suppose I am an employer who doesn't believe in this. It seems to me that this part of the health care plan is saying I have no choice in following my conscience."
Despite an amendment in the measure that would reportedly allow religious organizations to opt out of providing the contraception services, Aymond says there are still problems with the reform plan that go much deeper.
"Some of the birth control medication is causes abortions, so this puts it into a whole new realm of morality."
Julie Mickelberry with Planned Parenthood of Louisiana calls it a victory for women.
"Every woman should be able to choose and use the birth control methods best for her," she says.
According to a a recent government study, there are more than 90 million contraceptive prescriptions dispensed each year. Aymond says the church isn't dictating free choice, it just doesn't want to have to pay for something it doesn't believe in.
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