Catholic College Students Rise to Defend Belmont Abbey College
Students from the University of Dallas, Franciscan University of Steubenville, De Sales University and Catholic University of America are fighting back.
Not only are Catholic schools across the country running to the aid of Belmont, many are gearing up for First Amendment fights of their own in light of the Obama health care 'reform' plan.
PrintWASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews.com) - Students at Catholic universities across the nation are banding together with students at Belmont Abbey College (BAC) in a stand for religious liberty and conscience rights, after the college was warned by the Obama administration last month that its refusal to cover contraception amounted to gender discrimination.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ignited the First Amendment firestorm earlier this month when it ruled Belmont Abbey College was wrong not to include coverage for contraception in its employee health insurance plan, despite the Catholic Church's prohibition on contraception as intrinsically evil. In addition to the Church's teachings against contraception as such, it is known that hormonal contraceptives often function as abortifacients.
According to BAC president William Thierfelder, while the local EEOC initially threw out the complaint, the decision was reversed after the affair went to officials in Washington.
Students from the University of Dallas, Franciscan University of Steubenville, De Sales University and Catholic University of America are fighting back, saying the EEOC decision is a troubling indication of the Obama administration's ideas on "reasonable" conscience protection.
"People need to wake up," said Michael Barnett, American Life League's director of leadership development and its LiveCampus college outreach program. "Under Obama, the federal government is forcing a religious institution to commit an act that violates its core values. This is religious persecution and a clear signal of what Obamacare would bring. This is the government imposing its will against the people's will."
In a letter to the Belmont, the EEOC claimed that the school discriminated against women by not covering contraceptives: "By denying prescription contraception drugs, [the college] is discriminating based on gender because only females take oral prescription contraceptives. By denying coverage, men are not affected, only women."
In a letter subsequently sent to EEOC chairman Stuart Ishimaru, Judie Brown, president of American Life League, pointed out, "The Catholic Church teaches that contraception is an evil and certainly not the sort of 'treatment' one would expect to find in a health insurance plan designed for staff at a Catholic facility. Your discriminatory actions against the college are unfounded and unconstitutional."
William K. Thierfelder, Belmont's president, affirmed that rather than provide contraceptive coverage, "We would close the college."
"This debate is part of an ongoing political struggle between the faculty and the administration of the school, and it entirely excludes the students and the monks of the Abbey," commented Ann Visintainer, a senior at Belmont. "We here at the Abbey pray the conflict may be resolved in a respectful and peaceful way, and in the meantime, we will continue to support and cherish human life in all its forms."
Not only are Catholic schools across the country running to the aid of Belmont, many are gearing up for First Amendment fights of their own in light of the Obama health care "reform" plan.
"This is an incursion into private religious belief," explained Larry Meo, president of De Sales University Students for Life. "The EEOC is attempting to impose a set of values on a certain group of colleges, and this is the very thing the president spoke against during his campaign."
Katie Prejean, a Crusaders for Life member at another Catholic college, the University of Dallas, agrees: "True Catholic academies are no longer safe from the Obama administration's desire to manipulate every citizen's health care, regardless of religious freedom."
Martha McAdams, a student at the University of Dallas and president of Texas Students for Life, the statewide student pro-life organization, summed up the issue at the core of the standoff between the Obama administration and Catholic institutions: "At the University of Dallas, as at most Catholic universities, abortion is purposely not included in the university- provided health insurance because it goes against a natural belief that all human life is precious."
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ignited the First Amendment firestorm earlier this month when it ruled Belmont Abbey College was wrong not to include coverage for contraception in its employee health insurance plan, despite the Catholic Church's prohibition on contraception as intrinsically evil. In addition to the Church's teachings against contraception as such, it is known that hormonal contraceptives often function as abortifacients.
According to BAC president William Thierfelder, while the local EEOC initially threw out the complaint, the decision was reversed after the affair went to officials in Washington.
Students from the University of Dallas, Franciscan University of Steubenville, De Sales University and Catholic University of America are fighting back, saying the EEOC decision is a troubling indication of the Obama administration's ideas on "reasonable" conscience protection.
"People need to wake up," said Michael Barnett, American Life League's director of leadership development and its LiveCampus college outreach program. "Under Obama, the federal government is forcing a religious institution to commit an act that violates its core values. This is religious persecution and a clear signal of what Obamacare would bring. This is the government imposing its will against the people's will."
In a letter to the Belmont, the EEOC claimed that the school discriminated against women by not covering contraceptives: "By denying prescription contraception drugs, [the college] is discriminating based on gender because only females take oral prescription contraceptives. By denying coverage, men are not affected, only women."
In a letter subsequently sent to EEOC chairman Stuart Ishimaru, Judie Brown, president of American Life League, pointed out, "The Catholic Church teaches that contraception is an evil and certainly not the sort of 'treatment' one would expect to find in a health insurance plan designed for staff at a Catholic facility. Your discriminatory actions against the college are unfounded and unconstitutional."
William K. Thierfelder, Belmont's president, affirmed that rather than provide contraceptive coverage, "We would close the college."
"This debate is part of an ongoing political struggle between the faculty and the administration of the school, and it entirely excludes the students and the monks of the Abbey," commented Ann Visintainer, a senior at Belmont. "We here at the Abbey pray the conflict may be resolved in a respectful and peaceful way, and in the meantime, we will continue to support and cherish human life in all its forms."
Not only are Catholic schools across the country running to the aid of Belmont, many are gearing up for First Amendment fights of their own in light of the Obama health care "reform" plan.
"This is an incursion into private religious belief," explained Larry Meo, president of De Sales University Students for Life. "The EEOC is attempting to impose a set of values on a certain group of colleges, and this is the very thing the president spoke against during his campaign."
Katie Prejean, a Crusaders for Life member at another Catholic college, the University of Dallas, agrees: "True Catholic academies are no longer safe from the Obama administration's desire to manipulate every citizen's health care, regardless of religious freedom."
Martha McAdams, a student at the University of Dallas and president of Texas Students for Life, the statewide student pro-life organization, summed up the issue at the core of the standoff between the Obama administration and Catholic institutions: "At the University of Dallas, as at most Catholic universities, abortion is purposely not included in the university- provided health insurance because it goes against a natural belief that all human life is precious."
- - -
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This is a good way to support the college. Send them your moral support at this link:
http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/get-involved/online-petitions/belmont-abbey-college-resisting-culture-death.html
My hats off to the students for standing up for what is right. Keep it up! You have a long road ahead of you - let your heart tell you what is right and follow it.
An observation: if this policy was infringing on Sharia Law - this administration would have backed down in a heartbeat.
AMDG
Your advertisement saying Obama wants moms to go back to school is anti family and anti children. We need stay at home moms to love and care for their chldren. I do nothing Obama suggests. Semper Fi
Many thanks to the students from across the country who are offering support of Belmont Abbey and the decision not to finance harmful daily synthetic hormone ingestions--the Pill--as part of the BAC "healthcare" plan. As the proud parent of a BAC student, I urge everyone to pray for Dr. Thierfelter and the students--but also for the conversion of the renegade professors who are attempting to subvert the mission and ministry of this fine Catholic college while polluting the minds of the students.
The students of Thomas Aquinas College stand by the students and faculty of Belmont Abbey College, insofar as any one of us can speak for another.
Just remember, as you from Belmont Abbey struggle against the unjust tyranny of this flawed understanding of the law, that nothing in this world can keep you from doing the Will of God. May the grace of Christ be with you...I assure you that anything this TACer can do to spread awareness (cliched as that sounds) of your plight will be done promptly.
Excellent article. Catholics need to follow the outcome of this. Very important!
We are rallying the young Catholics to stand up for what is right! We are praying for all of you there. This is really a spiritual battle. It is time for us to stand by the side of truth! And that side is with God!
With St. Michael leading us, we will prevail, as Jesus promised us. Maranatha, Lord!
My prayers are for all Catholic schools and universities in our great nation! St. Michael, safeguard and defend us in our battle.
And to think I recently heard a caller/listener on EWTN/Ave Maria Radio object to the use of 'soldier' and 'battle' analogies when referring to the 'fight' we Catholic Christians face in today's world. He believed doing so somehow disrespected and/or diminished those in the military.
If evidence such as this frightening situation at Belmont Abbey College, among other examples, is not sufficient to make it clear that we are in the midst of spiritual WARFARE, nothing else is. Not to mention, such terms are used in sacred Scripture: The Battle Against Evil:
"Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6: 10-17
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!
"Onward Christian Soldiers" on our Catholic Campuses. With your only "Arms" and Banners: the Cross and the Word of the Lord to lead you. All the "Faith-full" stand with you: Speak up and March On all over the country! God bless you all!