New York law making religious employers cover contraceptives upheld

Published: 2006-01-13

ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) -- A New York appeals court Jan. 12 upheld a state law requiring religious employers to cover contraceptives in prescription insurance plans. A spokesman for the church-owned organizations that sued to block the law said they would appeal. In a lawsuit filed by Catholic Charities of Albany and other church-based medical and social service agencies, the appellate division of the state Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that the 2002 law is constitutional. The church groups had argued that the requirement to provide contraceptives for employees violates the tenets of their faith. "This case is not about the right to contraception," said a statement from the New York State Catholic Conference. "We have never challenged employees' right to use contraception. We have simply maintained that our religious beliefs prevent us from paying for something we teach is sinful."

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