Franciscan University of Steubenville Takes Stand to Respect and Protect Life

Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio has dropped its student health insurance plan because of the onerous implications of the Obama HHS edict. That edict, or mandate as it is called, would require the university to materially cooperate in the evil of sterilization, contraception and abortion. 

STEUBENVILLE, OH (Catholic Online) - The Franciscan University of Steubenville announced to students that the current plans would expire on August 15, 2012 and the university would not bill students for health insurance plans going forward. 

The announcement on the university website read in part, "The Obama Administration has mandated that all health insurance plans must cover 'women's health services' including contraception, sterilization, and abortion-causing medications as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)."

"Up to this time, Franciscan University has specifically excluded these services and products from its student health insurance policy, and we will not participate in a plan that requires us to violate the consistent teachings of the Catholic Church on the sacredness of human life."

The Obama administration has disregarded the University's Catholic identity and the protections of the First Amendment to the US Constitution. It has made a false claim that an exemption exists for schools like Franciscan University. It does not. There is no guarantee that funds paid into insurance plans with this alleged  exemption will not facilitate the funding of abortions and abortion inducing drugs, because money is inherently fungible. 

Tragically, this excellent University is faced with a choice which it should never have had to make! It can violate one of the fundamental tenets of the Catholic faith and the Natural Law - that all human life is sacred - or it can not provide health insurance to its students.  

While the result, that over 3,000 students will be without health care, at least from the University, is regrettable, there is no constitutional or legal requirement that private entities provide health insurance.

Secondly, the Franciscan University of Steubenville and all Church related outreaches have a right to the protections of the freedom of religion and conscience - even if the Obama Administration does not respect the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

This sad result will soon be multipied throughout the Nation if the unconstitutional mandate issued by the Health and Human Services Department is not rescinded. The value of human life trumps all other considerations. 

Franciscan University is showing trendous integrity and courage in its dealings - an example others would do well to consider.

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