FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012

Contact: Patricia M. Chivers
Communications Director
(678) 480-6865
pchivers@archatl.com

Archdiocese of Atlanta’s Response to White House Announcement Today on Health and Human Services Mandate

Atlanta- The federal government’s infringement on religious liberty has united people of all faiths across America. Archbishop Gregory’s hope is that President Obama’s announcement today will create opportunities for further discussion of the effects that the HHS regulation will have on religious freedom. Along with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, we are studying the effect of the proposals.

The Health and Human Service mandate seems to require contraception coverage including abortion-inducing drugs to be offered to women by their employers’ insurance companies. The Archdiocese of Atlanta is self-insured as are many Catholic institutions, so this is not a real solution. The proposal may be a first step, but the mandate would still require Catholic Charities, Catholic hospitals, Catholic Schools, and the Archbishop’s office to participate in the violation of the moral law and to act against our conscience. We hope that the administration will continue to work with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to fully ensure the free exercise of religion.

Contact Pat Chivers at pchivers@archatl.com or 678-480-6865.

#  #  #