ARTICLES

Forced Birth Control

NO EXEMPTIONS FOR CATHOLICS

On Monday, April 12, the California Senate voted to force health insurance companies to provide artificial birth control as part of their coverage. California is one of 25 states that either have or will introduce such legislation. According to Colleen Parro, director of the Republican National Coalition for Life, "Two years ago, NARAL and NOW introduced federal legislation that would force the issue on all 50 states. They were not successful with the federal government so now they are turning to the states."

The state senate bill has a companion bill in the Assembly, which would mandate contraceptive coverage by insurance companies. These laws are sponsored by the local district American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. The senate bill was approved on a 23-11 vote, with Republicans all voting against the bill. Other supporters of the bill, which if passed would take effect January 1, 2000, include the ACLU, NOW, Catholics for a Free Choice, Catholics for Contraception, the National Abortion Rights Action League, and Zero Population Growth.

The California Catholic Conference is on record opposing the bill, as is the California Association of Catholic Hospitals. Both groups state that they oppose the bill because of the Church's teachings on artificial birth control.

Interestingly, the bill's author, Jackie Speier, a Democrat from Daly City who calls herself Catholic, stated to reporters that the largest chain of Catholic hospitals already provide contraception coverage for their employees. "Maybe this issue is really moot now," she told reporters. When asked which hospital she was referring to in the quote, Stacy Dwelley, Senator Speier's consultant on the bill, replied that this had been a "private conversation" and would not elaborate. Dwelly said that "75 percent of Catholic hospitals in the Association provide coverage for artificial birth control." Dwelly said that Senator Speier would be willing to comment directly, but Senator Speier did not return calls asking for comment.

The assembly appropriations committee's analysis of the contraception bill noted that in the past, supporters of the bill added a religious-exemption clause, but the bill was still vetoed by then-Governor Wilson. This year, supporters insist that the religious-exemption clause be omitted because "unlike conscience clauses that allow medical practitioners to bow out from providing questionable services, an exemption in this bill would allow an employer to effectively make moral judgements for employees." The California Catholic Conference of Bishops' executive director, Ned Dolejsi, said that Senator Speier's office has given them "promises and assurances that a conscience clause will be included in the bills but to date we have no agreement." (The bishops would not support the bill even if an agreement was reached.)

When asked about the chain of hospitals Speier alluded to, Dolesjsi identified them as Catholic Health Care West and referred this reporter to their office for comment. (A review of their employee benefits program for the Central Coast regional office of this hospital chain shows shows that Catholic Healthcare West does cover oral contraceptives under "Covered drugs.") When I called her, Joyce Hawthorne, regional director of communications for Catholic Healthcare West referred me to Nancy Cartwright, their director of public affairs. Carthwright did not return my call.

San Diego's Scripps Mercy hospital is "still Catholic and the Sisters [of Mercy] are still here" according to the Scripps Mercy hospital receptionist who answered the phone. Though the receptionist said that Scripps Mercy Hospital is not part of Catholic Healthcare West, Hawthorne explained that Catholic Healthcare West provides "management services to Scripps Mercy Hospital." When I asked Cathy Maroni, Mercy's director of public relations, if the hospital provided coverage for birth control, she replied: "No, we sure don't".

Senator Ray Haynes from Temecula offered an amendment to the bill that would allow employers to bypass paying for employees contraceptives if the employer had a religious objection to artificial birth control. Senator Richard Polanco from Los Angeles moved to table Senator Haynes' amendment. One staffer in Haynes' office pointed out the irony of Polanco's motion, citing he was a Catholic. Haynes told reporters "There are a number of people whose religious beliefs would prohibit them from paying for this coverage...if we mandate this coverage there will be a lot of employers who will drop their health coverage.

Supporters of the bill are now hoping that with a Democrat-controlled senate and assembly, the contraception insurance bills will easily clear both houses and will be signed into law by Governor Gray Davis who expressed support for the bill during his election campaign.

One Catholic businessman who asked not to be named for this article said that if this bill passes, "I'm going to be put in the situation of either dropping the drug coverage or pay for prescriptions out of my own pocket." Catholic employers who are concerned about paying for coverage of artificial birth control can opt out of the prescription drug portion of their employees' health benefits package. Elise Anderson of Blue Cross of Southern California said in a phone interview that employers can elect not to provide prescription coverage for their employees. "Employees can design their [health benefits] plan anyway they want...that includes excluding pharmaceuticals if they want". Similarly, Laura Perry of Blue Shield of California said: "They [employers] have the option to not purchase pharmacy benefits".

Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the Secretriat for Pro-Life Activities of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops said: "Advocates are backing these insurance mandates...as a way to desensitize people to very early abortions by marketing them as something other than what they really are".