The head of the Youngstown Catholic Diocese is joining dozens of other church leaders around the country opposing a new mandate from the Obama administration.
Recently, the administration imposed regulations requiring employers, even those run by religious groups, to provide insurance covering contraception and other services that are now opposed by the Catholic Church on religious grounds.
Although Bishop George Murry is in Rome for a conference, he is urging local Catholics to support a measure in Washington that would allow employers to be exempted. A letter from the bishop was read at all Masses in the Diocese over the weekend, and a copy of it appeared in the Diocesan newspaper.
"There is a bill that has been introduced into congress on respective conscience that the bishop is asking people to write to Tim Ryan, Senator Brown, Senator Portman, whoever their congressman is in the Valley, to write them and ask to co-sponsor and to push," said Brian Corbin, executive director of Catholic Charities.
Among the groups required to provide coverage would be local parochial schools and Catholic hospitals such as St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown and St. Joseph Health Center in Warren that serve more than just people of one particular faith or background.
Supporters say the measure now in front of lawmakers would give their agencies religious exemptions from having to enforce the new mandate.
