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January
23, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 2Oakland,
CA
Church in New
York to appeal ruling
requiring birth control coverage
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Catholic leaders in New York say they
plan to appeal a state appellate court ruling that says the Catholic Church
must continue to provide insurance that pays for prescription contraceptives.
Plaintiffs will appeal the case to the state Court of Appeals, said Dennis
Poust, director of communications for the New York State Catholic Conference,
an Albany-based lobbying group that represents the state’s eight
Roman Catholic Dioceses.
“If this law is allowed to stand, there is nothing to stop the Legislature
from forcing abortion services on us,” Poust said.
In the 3-2 ruling on Jan. 12 by the Appellate Division of the state Supreme
Court, judges rejected religious groups’ arguments that the 2002
Women’s Health and Wellness Act, which requires health insurers
to provide contraceptive coverage, violates religious freedom.
“It’s disappointing to me it ever got this far. Any religious
group should have the right to withdraw based on the tenets of their faith,”
said Cynthia D. Falise, director of the Respect Life Office for the Syracuse
Diocese.
Lynda Fuchs, director of the Syracuse area’s Religious Coalition
for Reproductive Choice, called the ruling a victory for women and families.
She said the Catholic Church’s view advocates just one religious
perspective.
“There are any number of faith groups and institutions in the mainstream
who certainly support the use of contraceptives and who would also argue
it’s a religious matter,” she said.
