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Be an Official Supporter of Birth Control!

June 8, 2012

In 1965, the landmark Supreme Court decision Griswold v. Connecticut invalidated an 1897 Connecticut law prohibiting the use of contraception by married couples. That decision recognized an individual's right to privacy in family planning matters. Yet today, nearly 50 years later, we are still struggling to ensure birth control is readily available to all.

The new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, took a historic step for women’s health by including FDA-approved birth control methods in preventive health services to be covered by insurers with no co-pay. When the Catholic Bishops and other powerful opponents of reproductive health care objected that their “religious freedom” to discriminate against covering women’s health care was at risk, the Obama Administration offered a reasonable compromise. Contraception would still be covered as a preventive service, but insurance companies – not religiously affiliated employers – would be responsible for offering the coverage. Yet the Catholic Bishops and their allies continue to object and they are mounting an all-out effort to kill the expanded coverage of this critical preventive service.

Now is the time for progressive people of faith to speak up! The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is requesting public comments about covering contraception in the Affordable Care Act. Opponents of contraception are flooding the comment site with claims about “religious freedom.” RCRC’s position is simple: we believe that organizations that employ and serve the general public should not be allowed to discriminate. We believe that every woman should have the religious freedom to access birth control—or not—as she chooses.

Here’s your chance to a part of the official democratic process and make your voice heard! But you must act now – the deadline is June 19th.

These are sample comments that you may want to use or adapt:  

“As a person of faith, I believe that our society has a responsibility to ensure that all people have access to the family planning services they need, as well as access to the means and ability to raise children in a healthy environment.”

“The proposed amendments will allow individuals to follow their own conscience and religious views in matters related to contraception and birth control and in no way compromise the functioning of religiously affiliated institutions that serve the public.”

On the 47th anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, you have an opportunity to have your voice heard in the federal decision-making process. So stand up, speak up, and share your support for birth control coverage! Take action before June 19th!