Iowa bishops take curious stand

As I lifelong practicing Catholic, I am astounded by Iowa Catholic Bishops' opposition to insurance coverage for FDA-approved contraception. While the bishops claim that refraining from the use of contraception is a deeply held religious conviction, the fact is that 98 percent of adults, including Catholics, have used birth control.

The idea that public policy should be dictated by a moral belief of the leaders of one religion, almost universally rejected by followers of that religion, is nothing short of preposterous. No issue of religious freedom is at stake. The policy does not mandate the use of contraception. It mandates insurance coverage for those who choose to use contraception. All are free to practice their religion as they see fit.

Why have the bishops chosen this issue on which to take a stand? The bishops must be unaware that Iowa law already requires insurance coverage for contraception. The same is true to varying degrees in 27 other states.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has taken a strong stand on many issues, including ones on which many practicing Catholics actually agree, for example, against the death penalty. Yet, when our current Catholic governor supported reinstatement of the death penalty, Iowa bishops generated no similar opposition. One would think that the moral outrage caused by killing would be greater than that caused by a proposal to require insurance coverage for contraception.

Iowa Catholics need to tell Iowa bishops to leave politics to the politicians. We can send that message by placing empty contribution envelopes in the collection plate for the next few weeks.

Dave O'Brien

Cedar Rapids