Diocese appeals Charities contraceptives case to U.S. Supreme Court

Published: 2004-06-02

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) -- The Diocese of Sacramento will appeal a California Supreme Court decision holding that Catholic Charities of Sacramento is not a religious institution and as such must provide coverage of contraceptives for its workers. Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand announced June 1 that he will take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to overturn a March 1 decision by the state's highest court, which requires Catholic Charities and other church entities to pay for contraceptives as part of employee health insurance. The 6-1 ruling said Catholic Charities of Sacramento may not be exempted from a 1999 state law that requires all employers to include contraceptives when they provide insurance coverage for prescriptions. The ruling could affect hospitals, colleges and universities and social service agencies run by the Catholic Church and other faith groups. "This lawsuit has very little to do with health insurance and everything to do with our fundamental rights as Americans," Bishop Weigand said in a statement. It comes down to a simple question, he said: "Under the (U.S.) Constitution, does the state of California have the right to tell its citizens how to practice their religion?"

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