Contraception mandate now in effect in U.S.

Business owners face heavy fines if they do not comply

The B.C. Catholic has a Catholic News Agency story about the reaction to the contraception mandate, which has been officially put into effect in the U.S.:

Starting Aug. 1, the owners of many for-profit businesses are being forced to pick between violating their beliefs and paying stifling fines as the federal contraception mandate goes into effect.

This initial implementation of the mandate “marks the beginning of the end of religious freedom in our nation,” said Christen Varley, executive director of Conscience Cause, a nonpartisan advocacy organization that works to defend religious freedom and conscience rights.

In a statement released shortly before the mandate was scheduled to go into effect, Varley explained that as of August 1, many employers would be faced with the “unimaginable choice” of denying their faith or paying crippling fines that could put them out of business.  

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.