Supreme Court rejects appeal of law requiring contraception coverage

Published: 2007-10-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Catholic Charities of Albany, N.Y., Oct. 1, letting stand a state court ruling that said church agencies cannot be exempt from a law requiring coverage for contraceptives in drug benefits for employees. The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state's Catholic bishops in public policy matters, said the bishops will now consider what alternatives have been left to them, "including the painful possibility of a loss of prescription drug benefits in employee health plans." In the meantime, it said in a statement, "Catholic institutions will continue for the immediate future providing the contraception coverage under formal protest." The conference's executive director called it "a sad day for religious liberty" in New York and in the U.S. In orders issued the first day of the 2007-08 term, the court without comment let stand a New York State Court of Appeals ruling that said religious groups may not be exempt from provisions of the Women's Health and Wellness Act of 2002.

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