Contraception mandate violates Constitution

The president has backed off the original contraception mandate and called it a compromise, it is obvious to me that this president has no respect for the Constitution. This issue on Catholic institutions being mandated to provide in their insurance programs not only free birth control, but coverage for abortions and abortion drugs is a violation of the First Amendment (which guarantees the free exercise of religion).

Saying that insurance companies will be required to pay does not acknowledge that many of these institutions, are self-insured, which means they will have to pay for procedures they find morally wrong.

Although framed as such, this is not an issue of women's health, but whether an individual, corporation, business or religious institution can be required by federal mandate to go against its faith and morals. This is exactly what the Affordable Health Care Act (ObamaCare) will require.

John Stiegelmeyer

Vinton