Catholic charities must pay for contraceptives Tom Smith

The press reports suggest the NY Court of Appeals based its decision on their conclusion that Catholic Charities and similar organizations were really social service agencies and not religious organizations, as if that is a coherent distinction to make.  The ultimate consequence may be that Catholic social whatchmacallems will just stop buying insurance for their employees. 

I don’t feel strongly about contraception, but it is troubling that  the State of New York thinks it should be able to tell religious organizations what they must pay for.  Of course, if Catholic Charities could make a credible threat that they would just stop operating in New York, the SONY might suddenly see the light.  But the State no doubt knows it can rely on the Catholics’ charitable instincts, and use them to coerce them to violate their consciences in for now relatively small ways.  It is always best to start with small violations of conscience.  I can’t say my expectations of the NY high court are particularly high.  I hope Catholic Charities does appeal to the Supremes.  At least it would not be a unanimous decision, as it was in New York.