The confrontation between the Catholic Church and the federal government in the United States on the subject of compulsory health insurance for contraceptives, surgical sterilization and embryocidal drugs and devices has exposed significant disunity among identifiably Catholic universities on the subject of contraception. Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded by the Jesuits, will end birth control coverage for employees in July. The announcement has caused controversy on campus. Contraceptive coverage continues to be provided by prominent Catholic universities like Georgetown, DePaul and Fordham. [Reuters] Belmont Abbey, which is suing the U.S. federal government because of the ‘preventive services mandate,’ provided contraceptive coverage for students until 2007. [Gaston Gazette]
The effect of these inconsistencies on social and political rhetoric is significant. It remains to be seen what effect they will have on judicial decisions.