The Obama administration released a notice on March 16 reiterating the requirements for religiously affiliated colleges and universities to include coverage for contraception, abortifacients, and sterilization in their health insurance programs. These services will be distributed to students as well as insured employees.
THE IRISH ROVER contacted the office of the president to see if University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC, intended to release further public statement. University Spokesman Dennis K. Brown responded by summarizing Jenkins’ past statements regarding the mandate.
“Father Jenkins has spoken out on three occasions in regard to the HHS mandate: a public letter to Secretary Sebelius urging her to broaden the HHS exemption, a statement in January expressing deep disappointment in the administration’s final ruling, and a statement in February indicating appreciation for the administration taking a step in the right direction but that more needs to be done,” he wrote.
Brown continued with a response concerning future statements from Fr. Jenkins.
“He [Fr. Jenkins] continues to monitor the evolving situation and remains in dialogue with the U.S. Bishops and other Catholic organizations and institutions. He does not typically sign on with others’ petitions or open letters but will speak in his own voice when and if it is appropriate,” Brown stated.
Numerous alumni report receiving an identical message after contacting the office of the president about the university’s official response to this issue.
Members of the university community have protested the mandate in a variety of ways.
On March 23 Notre Dame students and staff participated in a South Bend rally organized as one of the “Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rallies.” This grassroots movement has organized rallies 140 cities across the country and reports 54,548 participants.
Mary Daly, program coordinator of University Life Initiatives at the Institute for Church Life, attended the local rally. She described the event as a success.
“The organizers struck a good balance between leading the attendees in prayer and providing information on the state of the questions,” she said.
Daly also commented on the event’s ecumenical character.
“The rally’s program included prayers from multiple religious traditions—lead by religious leaders in the local community,” she said. “These leaders also had the chance to say a few words before praying; this, along with the prayers, was helpful in creating a sense of solidarity across the traditions.”
Junior Samantha Stempky, president of Notre Dame Right to Life, also attended the rally.
She said that the rallies are important because of the “need to continue fighting for our religious freedoms as Catholics to be respected.”
Stempky considers it particularly important for students to protest the mandate.
“The law sets a precedent, and if the United States federal government can disregard religious freedoms like this–related either to certain groups or with certain issues–what other rights will it be able to choose not to respect?” she said. “Young people especially need to resist this mandate, because we are fighting for the future of the nation and society in which we will (or will not) be free to live out our Catholic faith.”
Notre Dame Right to Life sponsored a panel discussion on “Notre Dame and the HHS ‘Contraceptive’ Mandate: A Panel Discussion” on March 27 in the McCartan Courtroom, Eck Hall of Law. The panel featured Notre Dame law professors, O. Carter Snead and Richard Garnett, as well as Lisa Everett, co-director of the diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend’s Office of Family Life, and Notre Dame senior Gabrielle Speach.
Madeline Gillen likes to admire impressionist painters while sipping peace tea. Contact her at mgillen@nd.edu.
