Pittsburgh Bishop: Won’t Let Health Insurer Give Disputed Coverage

The Roman Catholic bishop of Pittsburgh says that he will refuse to sign a document allowing a third-party insurer to provide preventative reproductive services for employees of a diocese-related charity even if it means that the nonprofit will have to pay fines.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Bishop David Zubik said Tuesday in federal court in Pittsburgh that he wouldn’t be able to live with himself “knowing that we’re contradicting what we believe.”

The Pittsburgh and Erie dioceses are challenging a new health care mandate that requires religious employers to either provide contraceptive and abortion coverage or certify their objections on moral grounds so an insurance company can provide such coverage.

The dioceses are seeking an injunction against the mandate, saying it violates their First Amendment rights.