Loyola Marymount abortion policy change prompts criticism

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 at 8:07 am by CNA Daily News

Loyola Marymount abortion policy change prompts criticism 2013-10-10T08:07:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Los Angeles, Calif., Oct 10, 2013 / 02:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A Jesuit college in California has sparked controversy by announcing that it will stop directly covering elective abortions, but will instead offer employees a separate, unsubsidized plan to cover them.

“At the end of the day, this insurance scheme facilitates employees’ abortions,” said Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, which works to promote authentic Catholic identity at Catholic colleges.

“This has been billed as a compromise on insurance coverage, but in reality it’s a compromise of the Faith and of LMU’s commitment to Catholic teaching – and it’s going to lead to innocent babies being killed in the womb.”

The decision was announced in an Oct. 7 letter from David W. Burcham, president of Loyola Marymont University, and Kathleen Hannon Aikenhead, chair of the Board of Trustees.

“We acknowledge that the issue of abortion is extremely complicated and encompasses varied and competing values that often leave no one happy,” the letter said.

“Nonetheless, we believe that the right to life and dignity for every human being is a fundamental part of Catholic beliefs (all other rights flow from this primary right to life and dignity), and that this vision needs to be evidenced in LMU’s policies and procedures.”

Burcham explained that, after years of paying for abortions under their insurance plans, the university had, “for the first time, been given the option to exclude elective abortions from its principal health insurance plans.”

He continued, adding that after receiving feedback from the campus community, the university decided to end coverage for elective abortions for the 2014 school year “because we take very seriously our fiduciary role as guardians of LMU and, particularly, upholding its Jesuit/Marymount and Catholic identity, mission, history and tradition.”

He explained that the decision is in line with the Catholic and Jesuit understanding of the “core teaching on the dignity of every human being at all stages of life.”

However, the school “will continue to cover therapeutic abortions, contraception and other forms of reproductive care mandated by the State of California.”

In addition, it will facilitate access to elective abortions through a third-party administrator. These abortions will not be funded by the university, but by employees who opt into the plan.

“The TPA-managed plan will cover elective abortions, for which an employee will pay a slightly higher premium,” the letter explained. “The employee will be responsible for the entirety of the cost associated with this additional coverage and, thus, no LMU dollars will be used in paying for this additional coverage.”

The decision – both to stop covering elective abortions directly and to offer the third-party plan – has raised opposition from faculty on both sides of the issue.

Anna Muraco, a sociology professor, told The Daily Breeze that she was disappointed with the decision, arguing that abortion is a matter of equality and the school should cover it.

“Don’t be surprised if somewhere down the line there will be an attempt to restrict sterilization coverage or limits on services for transgendered Americans or domestic partner benefits,” she said.

Faculty members who welcome the college's decision to not fund abortions, however, also have questions about the new policy, due to its facilitation of abortions through the third-party administrator.

“I don’t think it makes much sense,” said Christopher Kaczor, a Loyola philosophy professor to The Daily Breeze.

“It’s like saying abortion is seriously wrong, I will not drive you to the abortion clinic, but wait here and I’ll have my brother drive you — and that somehow gives them clean hands.”

Previous Post

October 10, 2013

November conference to discuss spiritual warfare

Next Post

October 10, 2013 Thai Catholic charity offers aid as flooding affect millions

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What are the names of the two witnesses in Revelation who prophesy for 1,260 days?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter and Paul They are not named Enoch and Elijah Moses and Elijah