Colorado Springs Included In National Protest
Would an employee of a religious organization opposing birth control or a certain type of abortion, still want the federal government to require reproductive health services in health care?
That is at the heart of a current nationwide debate that touched Colorado Springs on Friday. About 100 people, mostly Catholics, held signs and gathered outside the downtown office of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet to raise awareness of the issue and protest what they perceive as a threat to personal rights and freedoms.
Catholics said Democrats typically support such ideas, and Bennet, a Democrat, hasn’t taken a stance yet.
Catholics said the government is wrong to mandate reproductive health services and not allow religious organizations to opt out. The mandate is part of President Barack Obama’s so-called “Obamacare” health plan, pending a final ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The accommodation they offered us, was they’re not going to make the church pay for it,” said Mike Balchus, a deacon with the Diocese on Colorado Springs. “They’re going to make the insurance companies provide that. But that will make premiums higher for everyone. This is government at its worst.”
The services include sterilization, birth control and a form of pill-induced abortion called an abortifacient. Many religious institutions and denominations oppose those measures.
However, Gary King, a resident who observed the protest and opposes the Catholic viewpoint, said he read in a survey that 80 percent of Catholic women use birth control.
“The bishops can tell them they can’t,” said King. “But when they want public funding and taxpayer dollars, they have to do what’s for the public good. I happen to think that birth control is a good thing.”
In a statement released Friday, Bennet’s spokesman, Adam Bozzi, wrote:
“In Colorado, women already have access to preventive care that includes contraceptive services ? no matter where they work. Senator Bennet supports Colorado policy and opposes efforts to prevent women from receiving essential health care services.
“(Bennet) does support federal law to protect religious liberty and conscience that exempts churches. Additionally, under a recent a rule announced by the administration, religious organizations won?t have to pay for contraceptives and women will have access to contraceptives with no copay.?
