Washington, D.C. — President Obama’s alternative proposal to provide access to contraception under the health care law drew support today from Interfaith Alliance.  The original rule put forward by the administration last week had raised some concerns about religious freedom.  The new proposal addresses those concerns without compromising women’s health.  Interfaith Alliance President Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy issued the following statement:

 

The controversy that has erupted this past week over the Obama Administration’s new rule on contraception raised important issues related to religious freedom, which today’s alternative addresses.  At the same time, we can’t be in the position of allowing a single religious perspective to dictate public policy.  The alternative proposed by the President today provides a path to full access to contraception without placing an undue burden on religious institutions that have a theological objection.

The President’s intention to provide access to contraception is right, but the original rule was wrong; today’s proposal is a good-faith attempt to address the issues at hand.  I urge both sides to resist using this important issue as a political football and instead focus on coming to a solution that works for all sides. As always we both expect and appreciate a president that protects religious freedom while respecting the diversity of belief in the country.


Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.