Gary Diocese sees compromise as ‘step in the right direction’

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Updated: March 12, 2012 8:07AM

Catholic leaders, including Bishop of Gary Dale Melczek, were highly critical of a new federal rule that would require all employers to offer free contraception coverage on their health care plans, but a compromise offered Friday by President Barack Obama may help to quell the furor.

Melczek — along with other bishops across the U.S. — issued a letter to parishes last week that detailed the Catholic Church’s opposition to the policy, which he said cast aside religious liberty.

“We cannot — we will not — comply with this unjust law,” Melczek wrote. “... unless this rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to either violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so).”

Diocese of Gary communications director Debbie Bosak said the letter was read from the pulpit or issued in the weekly bulletin.

Bosak said Melczek couldn’t be reached for comment on the compromise because he is in Rome, but she echoed comments made Friday by Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York, the head of the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops.

“(Dolan) said it was a step in the right direction,” Bosak said. “We have 35 people working in our building, and there are maybe a handful that aren’t Catholic. But it’s
a greater concern when we’re talking about Catholic hospitals and Catholic charities — to expect them to now only be (employing) Catholics totally goes against our mission.”