Chris Matthews puts politics aside...

There has been a recent uproar among Catholic leadership, Catholic individuals and employers, and many other Americans related to the aspect of the Affordable Care Act requiring health insurance policies to cover contraception for all members.  Chris Matthews had a segment on this issue:

• Chris Matthews is a Catholic as well as a known supporter of President Obama, and hosts a show on MSNBC which admittedly leans left.  John Heilemann likely thought he would get a pass for his use of White House talking points.

•  Mr. Heilemann claimed that the contraceptive issue was not important because it was already law in 28 states, and Chris Matthews challenged him to support his claim with a source outside the White House.

• The National Catholic Reporter explained, "Currently, 28 states have laws requiring contraceptive coverage as part of health plans. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 20 of those states offer some type of exemption...Whether exemptions exist or not, Catholic groups in all 28 states can avoid the contraceptive mandate in one of three ways, says the U.S. bishops’ conference. These include self-insuring prescription drug coverage, dropping that coverage completely or opting into a federal law that preempts any state mandates. Critics say the narrowness of the recent federal ruling would block religious groups from taking any of these avenues."

 -- http://ncronline.org/news/politics/hawaiis-contraception-model-has-downsides-some-say

• Clearly, the Federal Mandate is nothing like the legal requirements that these states have instituted.

• States are not the same as the Federal Government.  States have many powers that the Federal Government does not.  Legislation regarding requirements for health insurance coverage is one of those powers.

• The recent change to the policy that was announced by President Obama is reported to remove this requirement.  This change is simply a paper change that shifts the reporting burden.  It changes nothing of substance.   These organizations that object will still be required (starting in 2014) to buy coverage for their employees or face a fine which would subsidize the individual insurance purchased by the employees.  The individual members of these policies (the employees) would still be able to be provided contraception free of charge, and the insurer would be forced to cover the entire cost of it.  This changes nothing related to money that flows from religious organizations to insurers and then on to the pharmacy providing the contraception.  It simply changes how money is accounted for and how the cost is reported.

• What about employers and small business owners who are Catholic or have other moral objections to contraception?  They will now be forced to provide coverage that pays for contraception, with almost no chance of getting an exemption.

This issue is one of great importance to many Catholics and people of all faiths and political belief.  And while religion and the Catholic Church have gotten a great deal of attention, it goes deeper than that.   It is an issue of personal choice and the right to decide what to buy and not buy.

Thank you Chris Matthews for putting politics aside and standing up for the rights of Catholics and all Americans.