(MOBILE, Ala.) - A political fire storm in Washington, D.C. is hitting home for thousands in our area. A new federal regulation requires religious employers to provide health insurance coverage the Catholic Church finds morally reprehensible. In one year, Providence Hospital and the Archdiocese of Mobile will have to cover things like birth control pills in their health insurance plans. But the church isn't taking this lying down. It's fighting the federal government and encouraging parishioners to do the same.
As a devout Catholic, Alice Zoradi takes issue with a new federal regulation that provides access to services and drugs the Catholic Church opposes.
"I think it's a mistake," said Zoradi.
She's not just relying on prayers for a reversal. She's written her Congressman and signed online petitions.
"We have done too much to bring us away from where we need to be. We've taken God out of everything," said Zoradi.
"We're very concerned about this, and we're very concerned about religious liberty in our country," said Archbishop Thomas Rodi.
In a letter to church members, Archbishop Rodi called the regulation an assault on religious liberty and urged members to voice their concerns with lawmakers.
"For the government to force us to provide these services goes against our religious conscience. And the government should not be coercing its citizens to act against their religious conscience," said Rodi.
As Catholic leaders condemn from their pulpits, politicians are condemning from behind theirs on the House floor.
"Our phones are ringing. People are calling. They're mad. They're angry. They are frustrated. And they are not going to sit by and take this," said Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala.
Congressman Bonner blasted the new regulation and says House Republicans are mounting an attack on the White House.
"Our goal is to build so much pressure on the administration and to force the President to realize that he has over stepped," said Bonner.
"It's not surprising they've latched on to this issue," said political science professor Sam Fisher.
Fisher says in an election year, it's not surprising Republicans are bashing the move. He says, in the process, they're appealing to conservative voters.
"They're saying vote us in, and we'll make sure you aren't forced to pay for contraceptives for you employees," said Fisher.
As for church versus state, Fisher disagrees with the argument that this regulation violates the 1st Amendment.
"So the real question is, is the government fundamentally denying the Catholic Church to be Catholic? " said Fisher. "Personally, I don't see that this is some how restricting their religious freedom or ability to express."
Even members of the Catholic Church are divided, studies show only 2% of Catholic women rely on natural family planning. Many women who grew up in the Catholic faith say the church's views on artificial birth control are unrealistic and add there's nothing wrong with the new regulation.
"It's sad that it has to be a regulation. They should provide what other employers in the nation supply," said one church goer who didn't want to reveal her identity.
While the regulation will mean changes for the roughly 5,000 people who work at Providence Hospital and the Archdiocese of Mobile, it will not mean changes for the 280 people who work full time at Spring Hill College. . Spring Hill College says its health insurance plan through Blue Cross/Blue Shield already covers these services and drugs.
So far, the White House is sticking to its policy but adds it is working with religious groups to address their concerns. In 2008, 54% of Catholics in the United States voted for Barack Obama.
