SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Politicians aren't the only ones responding to today's Supreme Court decision, so are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
As a part of the healthcare reform law, Catholic-based institutions would be required to offer insurance which covers contraceptive services, along with sterilization.
Lawsuits from 13 dioceses, along with several other Catholic-based institutions, have already been filed in response to the mandate, which they say would force them to violate their moral convictions.
The church has encouraged members to write to Congress in order to express their concern about religious freedom, which they say would be violated.
That said, the executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference says it has long supported certain aspects of healthcare reform.
"We believe that there should be access to health care for all, especially the poor and the vulnerable. So, we're supportive of that issue. But, we think specifically when you start to tell religious organizations that you have to cover things that are against their teachings, we have a problem with that. And so, what we're trying to do is encourage our people to contact Congress and make a change in the law," said Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference.
Moving forward, Chapman says the church will continue to educate members in order to bring about change.
