Reply #3: So all Catholic hospitals/ other church-backed institutions stock condoms? [View All]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3808490,00.html

Catholic Plan Must Include Birth Control

<snip>The 6-1 ruling could reach far beyond the 183 full-time employees of Catholic Charities and affect thousands of workers at Catholic hospitals and other church-backed institutions throughout the state.<snip>


The high court said Catholic Charities is no different from other businesses in California, which is one of 20 states that require company-provided health plans to include contraception coverage if the plans have prescription drug benefits. In California, "religious employers" such as churches are exempt from the requirement. <snip>


The charity doesn't offer insurance to pay for birth control because it follows Roman Catholic Church dogma, which considers contraception a sin. The charity argued unsuccessfully that it should be exempted from state law along with the church.


The Supreme Court ruled that the charity is not a religious employer because it offers such secular services as counseling, low-income housing and immigration services to the public without directly preaching about Catholic values.


The court also noted that the charity employs workers of differing religions. <snip>

The 20 states that require private-sector insurance coverage for prescription contraceptives include Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington.


The case is S099822, Catholic Charities of Sacramento, Inc., v. Superior Court of Sacramento County.


http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S099822.DOC