Letter
Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to the Senate on Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (2012)
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo's Letter to the Senate on Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, February 15, 2012
Cardinal DiNardo urges Senators to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (S. 1467) in response to federal health care regulations.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed HHS to mandate "preventive services," and in 2011-2012 HHS required coverage of contraceptives, sterilization, and related services, with only a very narrow religious exemption.
Criticism of the HHS mandate:
- The exemption applied only to limited religious entities, excluding many faith-based charities, hospitals, and schools.
- Religious organizations are effectively forced to violate their beliefs or stop serving broader communities.
- Even proposed accommodations still impose objectionable coverage indirectly through insurance plans.
- The rule leaves insurers and self-insured religious groups without clear protection.
However, the proposed bill would allow employers, insurers, and individuals to offer and purchase health plans consistent with their moral and religious beliefs, while preserving existing conscience protections without forcing participation in services they object to.
The proposed bill will not force insurers to grant exemptions or disrupt existing laws. It will not permit discrimination against individuals or deny basic health care. The proposed bill is a reasonable, limited measure to preserve long-standing religious freedom and conscience rights in health care.