As part of the universal health insurance reform passed in 2010, all group health plans must provide - at no cost to the recipient - certain “preventive services.” The Health and Human Services mandate requires group health plans to pay for several preventive services for women.
Nine of the services are not morally troublesome, but one of the government-mandated services requires: “[a]ll Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity” be provided. The serious issue here is the fact that at least one of the approved contraceptives can cause an abortion.The government has publically stated the HHS mandate does “not include abortifacient drugs,” but the text of the regulation itself contains no such guarantee. The “FDA-approved contraceptives” covered by the mandate include “emergency contraception” drugs. One of them is “ella” (ulipristal) - which is a close analogue to the abortion drug RU-486 (mifepristone) - and can cause an abortion to avoid pregnancy. ETBU believes that providing coverage for abortifacient drugs would be a serious violation of our faith.
- Case Page
Click here for case page at The Becket Fund For Religious Liberty
- The website for The Becket Fund For Religious Liberty
- Marshall News Messenger: Rule Doesn't End Objections To Health Plan
- KLTV-Tyler: Better East Texas: ETBU
Click here to view editorial by Pat Stacey
- National Review Online: Baptists vs. Obama
Click here to read interview with Dr. Dub Oliver
- Marshall News Messenger: ETBU Files Files Federal Suit
- KLTV-Tyler: ETBU Files Lawsuit Disputing Insurance Coverage of Emergency Contraceptives
Click here to view story by reporter Melanie Torre
- CBS-19: ETX University Sues Government Over Obamacare
Click here to view story by reporter Field Sutton
- Baptist Standard: ETBU, HBU Legally Challenge Regulations In Health Care Mandate
- Baptist Press: Two Baptist Universities Join Legal Fight Against Abortion Mandate
- Christian Post: Texas Baptist Universities Sue Federal Government Over HHS Mandate
- KTBS: ETBU Files Lawsuit Over Requirements in Affordable Care Act
Click here to view story by Carolyn Cerda
- KLSA: East Texas University Sues Government Over 'Obamacare'
• ETBU President Dr. Dub Oliver testified on Capitol Hill before the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform on February 16, 2012. The hearing was entitled, “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?”
Click here to read his testimony
Click here to view the video of the hearing
Click here for the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform web site
• Marshall News Messenger Coverage of Dr. Dub Oliver speaking on Capitol Hill
• Dr. Dub Oliver is quoted in a CNN story
• Dr. Dub Oliver is quoted in a World Magazine article
• ETBU Jarrett Library Research Guide
Click for Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State
• Marshall News Messenger Editorial
Click to read Baptist Founder Williams Was Force Behind Separating Church, State
• KTBS-TV Story with Dr. Dub Oliver
Click to view story by KTBS reporter Carolyn Cerda
- Article in the CCCU Advance Spring 2012 edition
Click here for Christian Colleges Challenge 'Contraceptive Mandate' as Unconstituitional
- Dr. Oliver letter to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services
- East Texas Baptist University Board of Trustees Resolution
Click here to read Resolution of Support