whatNOW - Winter 2011 e-Newsletter

Celibate Men New Leaders in Women's Reproductive Healthcare:
Bishops Aim to Take Away Your Birth Control

A recent article in the Huffington Post, "The Men Behind the War on Women," takes a look at the big role of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on anti-abortion policies, noting that they "have emerged since the 2009 health care reform debate as one of the most powerful anti-abortion advocates on Capitol Hill." Yes, these men wielding so much power over women's health are celibate religious leaders with no chance of ever getting pregnant and no substantive legal or medical expertise.

• They are working behind closed doors actually helping legislators write anti-abortion bills. And Congress has rolled out the welcome mat - the bishops testify regularly before House subcommittees on women's health issues under the guise of protecting religious freedom. Outrageously, this work is done as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, which by law is not allowed to influence legislation as part of its major activities. NOW has called for them to lose their tax-exempt status.
  
• The Catholic clergy opposes abortion (even in cases of rape and incest), stem cell research, and all artificial contraception and sterilization methods, including birth control pills and condoms.
  
• The bishops used the Church to spread their message. At Mass, churchgoers were asked to oppose any health care reform bill without the anti-choice Stupak amendment. Where's the "Separation of Church and State?"
  
• Last year 59,000 nuns - many who work to provide health services to women - sent a letter to Congress urging them to pass health care reform despite the bishops' objections. According to Catholics for Choice, Catholics use birth control and obtain abortions at approximately the same rates as non-Catholic women in the U.S. Regardless, the bishops claim to have the support of Catholics around the country.
  
• Their next campaign is to take down birth control by opposing new rules that would require insurance companies to cover contraception without co-pays. Under the banner of "religious freedom," the bishops are calling for sweeping exemptions in the policy for any Catholic-related organization, despite the fact that the requirement that plans cover birth control doesn't actually compel anyone to use it.
  
• Much of the bishops' power in the health care reform debate came from the 39 anti-choice Dems (total after 2008 elections) who could be swayed to oppose the bill if it didn't impose new restrictions on abortion access. GOP Reps were already set on voting reforms down. Think about that the next time our leaders support an anti-choice Democrat.