RICHMOND, Va. (OSV News) — Virginia’s Catholic bishops have urged Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to veto bills that would establish a “right to contraception” and require health insurance companies to provide coverage for contraception.
Critics of the measures say they do not contain any religious exemptions or parental consent requirements, while supporters say the measures would protect access to contraceptives.
The Virginia Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops and the Arlington and Richmond dioceses, called the measures “coercive” in an April 29 message to Catholic Virginians, urging them to call on Youngkin “to veto these extremely harmful bills that would end lives, violate religious liberty and undercut parental rights.”
The conference said SB 237/HB 609, which would enact a “right to contraception,” would “undermine the religious liberty and conscience rights of hospitals and health clinics that do not provide sterilization procedures or contraceptives due to their beliefs,” placing them at risk of litigation.
SB 238/HB 819, which would require health insurance carriers to provide coverage for contraceptives, defines that term expansively and would apply to “even some abortion-inducing drugs,” the conference said.
“These bills raise fundamental life, liberty and parental rights issues,” the message said. “Please act now to urge vetoes!”
REPRO Rising Virginia, which has backed the measures, urged Virginians to contact Youngkin in favor of the bills, writing in a message to its supporters that SB 238/HB 819 “will expand access to contraceptives by eliminating burdensome co-pays, allowing for a wider array of options for multiple healthcare reasons so that ALL Virginians can have access to the contraceptive care they need.”
After passing the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, Youngkin requested amendments to both bills, which would have added exceptions for religious or ethical beliefs. Virginia lawmakers rejected the amendments, sending them back to Youngkin for his consideration in their original form.
Youngkin, who now has a May 17 deadline on both bills, has since been vague about his intentions for the bills. His office told local outlet 8News that the governor supports both access to contraception and Virginians’ constitutional rights and religious liberties.
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