1. HHS Mandate Jacquie, Alie, Danielle

2. Stand Up for Religious Freedom What is the HHS mandate? ► ► A new rule unveiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ► Secretary Kathleen Sebelus ► Under Secretary Kathleen Sebelus ► ► On January 20, 2012.

3. Stand Up for Religious Freedom The New Policy Required ► It requires nearly all private health insurance plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, surgical sterilizations, and abortion inducing drugs.

4. Stand Up for Religious Freedom Result of “Affordable Care Act” ► AKA: “Obamacare” passed in 2010. ► In September 2010 the Federal Government asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to recommend a list of “preventative services for women”. ► In July 2011The IOM include sterilization and contraceptive services. ► The government adopted them in August 2011.

5. Stand Up for Religious Freedom Result ► All health plans have to cover these “preventative services” ► without co-pays or other cost sharing ► REGARDLESS of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or the woman herself objects to the coverage.

6. Stand Up for Religious Freedom Religious Exemption? ► Yes…It provides an exemption for “religious employers” who object to contraception, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs. ► BUT NO: ONLY if the religious employers purpose is to instill religious doctrine and hire and serve only people of their own faith, and if they qualify as a church or religious order according to a very narrow definition in the tax code.

7. Stand Up for Religious Freedom Religious Exemption? ► This excludes a majority of faith-based organizations. ► Catholic hospitals, universities, and service organizations. ► “Not even Jesus and the apostles would have qualified for this exemption.”

8. Stand Up for Religious Freedom Obama’s Accommodation ► February 10, 2012, responding to intense opposition. ► President Obama announced there would be an accommodation for religious institutions opposed. ► In the accommodation, insurance companies-not the religious employers themselves-would be forced to pay.

9. Stand Up for Religious Freedom Obama’s Accommodation ► BUT…funds the insurance companies would use to make these payments come from the premiums paid by employers. ► The religious institutions still pay for the services against their morals. ► AND…this is inadequate for self-insured religious institutions. ► Conclusion?

10. Stand Up for Religious FreedomTimeline ► August 3, 2011, HHS Regulation, All group health plans must cover “[FDA-]approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity.” FDA approved contraception includes Plan B (“morning after pill) and ella (“week after pill). HHS RegulationHHS Regulation ► January 31, 2012, Press Release, Senator Rubio introduces conscience rights bill Press ReleasePress Release ► February 10, 2012, Press Release, Obama Administration Offers False “Compromise” on Abortion- Drug Mandate Press ReleasePress Release ► February 15, 2012, Press Release, UNACCEPTABLE: Diverse group of more than 300 academics and religious leaders call Obama’s HHS statement “Unacceptable” Press ReleasePress Release ► February 18, 2012, Congressional Hearing, First Congressional Hearing on HHS Mandate, President Theirfelder Testifies (Belmont Abbey College) Congressional HearingCongressional Hearing ► February 23, 2012, Press Release, 7 states sue over mandate (Nebraska v. HHS) Press ReleasePress Release ► February 28, 2012, Congressional Hearing, Becket Fund Testifies before full House Judiciary Committee regarding constitutionality of the HHS Mandate Congressional HearingCongressional Hearing ► April 26, 2012, Video, Sebelius admits before congress that she did not consult Supreme court decision on religious liberty when drafting the HHS mandate Video

11. Stand Up for Religious Freedom 86 Plaintiffs… 26 Cases ► Belmont Abbey College v. Sebelius ► Colorado Christian University v. Sebelius ► EWTN v. Sebelius ► Priests for Life v. Sebelius ► Louisiana College v. Sebelius ► Ave Maria v. Sebelius ► Geneva College v. Sebelius ► Nebraska v. HHS ► O’Brien v. HHS ► Newland v. Sebelius ► Legatus v. Sebelius ► W.D.Pa. (Erie) Lawsuit ► Diocese of Erie N.D. Tex. (Dallas) Lawsuit ► S.D. Miss. (Gulfport) Lawsuit ► St. Dominic Health Services ► N.D. Ind. (South Bend) Lawsuit ► E.D. Mo. (St. Louis) Lawsuit ► N.D. Ill. Lawsuit ► Wheaton College v. Sebelius ► Triune Health Group v. Sebelius ► Grace Schools v. Sebelius ► D.D.C. Lawsuit ► E.D.N.Y. Lawsuit ( Becket Fund) Lawsuits to Date

12. Stand Up for Religious Freedom What Role does Religion Play? ► HHS mandate violates Religious Freedom! ► “President Obama’s HHS Mandate violates freedom of conscience, a right that is guaranteed by the First Amendment and even several federal laws. The right to practice one’s religious beliefs is protected by The Bill of Rights. The Obama administration’s attempt to force all Americans to buy coverage for sterilization and contraceptives, including drugs that induce abortion, is a radical incursion into freedom of conscience. ► Never before in U.S. history has the federal government forced citizens to directly purchase a product in contradiction to their moral and religious beliefs.”

13. What Role does Religion Play? ► The HHS Mandate is infringing upon religious freedom in their business decisions, violates their consciences and business owners want to ensure that their company is run in accordance with their religious values. ► They are taking over our consciences, what else does the government plan to take over? ► “My stance on this issue is that we’re fighting for religious liberty for men and women. It is ‘unfortunate’ that the debate has been framed as a women’s rights issue when it is definitely an issue of religious freedom.” -Mary Anne Yep, co-founder and vice president of Triune Health Group. www.ctbulletin.com

14. Stand Up for Religious Freedom What Role does Religion Play? ► ► Many institutions will be forced to provide services that directly contradict the teachings of their faith. ►. ► And the federal government is claiming the right to decide for religious institutions what constitutes their ministry. ► We all have that right to practice our faith, and share it with others. ► This is a great opportunity for ecumenism, for Christians to unite in what they believe.

15. Stand Up for Religious Freedom United under our Bishops ► Also an opportunity for Catholics to unite under our bishops. ► Exposes what we as Catholics truly believe, especially in the area of contraceptives. ► Fortnight for Freedom…Prayer and Sacrifice! Started on the feast of the martyrs, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher. Bishops wanted to promote “Our Christian and American heritage of liberty,” initiated 2 weeks of prayer, self- studying on this mandate and sacrifice. This campaign ended on July 4, America’s Independence Day! (another date with clear significance for U.S.)

16. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1738 Freedom is exercised in relationships between human beings. Every human person, created in the image of God, has the natural right to be recognized as a free and responsible being. All owe to each other this duty of respect. The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of the common good and public order. 1747 The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in religious and moral matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of man. But the exercise of freedom does not entail the putative right to say or do anything.

17. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1782 Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. "He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters."(DH3 # 2) 1776 "Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment... For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God...His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.“ (GS 16)

18. Long-Term Impact on the Nation’s Culture ► The government wants dependence in order to control the people. ► If its contraception now, what’s tomorrow? ► Goes beyond the issue of contraception. ► Making people aware of the Churches teaching. ► Brought people together…Catholics to pray and SACRIFICE.

19. Stand Up for Religious Freedom Is this really about access to contraception? ► Contraceptives are already widely, cheaply available. ► “Access” does not mean someone is suppose to pay for you.

20. USCCB: Six Things Everyone Should Know About the HHS Mandate

21. 1. The mandate does not exempt Catholic charities, schools, universities, or hospitals

22. 2. The mandate forces these institutions and others against their conscience to pay for things they consider immoral.

23. 3. The mandate forces coverage of sterilization and abortion- inducing drugs and devices as well as contraception.

24. 4. Catholics of all politital persuasions are unified in the opposition to the mandate.

25. 5. Many other religious and secular people and groups have spoken out strongly against the mandate.

26. 6. The federal mandate is much stricter than existing state mandates.

27. RC Women Take Action ► AMERICA CODE BLUE ► What: A steady flow of thousands of blue envelopes and letters in opposition to the HHS mandate. ► Where: The halls of Congress and the US Senate. ► When: Beginning September 8, 2010 up through the presidential election

28. http://americacodeblue.com/ ► “The idea was to flood Congress and the Senate with blue envelopes and hard copy letters!” said Sally. “If everyone mails their letters around the same time....it will have a huge impact.” ► “Emails can easily be ignored and no one really sees it,” she said. “Hard copy colored envelopes will get the attention of postal workers, office workers and hopefully media. It will force media and our congressmen to acknowledge that the silent majority is not silent anymore.”