Church stands in way of health

Citing religious beliefs, Catholic universities across the country are refusing to prescribe birth control medication to their students and faculty. 

Even schools like Fordham University in New York City are following the trend, despite the fact that New York State law requires its schools to pay for birth control as part of their health care plan. As a result, many women have either had to go to Planned Parenthood or private doctors for their birth control, or give it up altogether because they couldn't afford it.

For most women, institutions could tell them to abstain, use condoms, etc., but what about women who need birth control pills for medical reasons?

My ex-girlfriend had a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome. In other words, her ovaries would develop extremely painful cysts on them. Among other problems, it inhibited her menstrual cycle.

To control the condition and keep her healthy, her doctor prescribed birth control medication.  If she for some reason didn't have access to the medication, it would have not only prevented her from living her life, it would have put her at greater risk for infertility, diabetes and ovarian cancer.

And yet, Catholic universities are still refusing to give women medications like this.

The New York Times recently cited a case in which a Georgetown law student with polycystic ovaries was denied birth control, even though she is gay and didn't need the pills for contraception. When she could no longer afford the pills herself, she developed a large cyst and had to have it surgically removed along with the rest of her ovary. Now, if the woman ever wants to have a child, she will need to consult a fertility specialist because she only has one working ovary.

A religious group that objects to sexual activity for all reasons but childbirth now makes it incredibly difficult for one woman to have a child. Seems like there's something awry, doesn't it?

The Catholic Church considers the use of contraception a sin, and children are viewed as gifts from God, but a survey cited in the Timesfound that 98 percent of sexually active Catholic women polled admitted to having used some form of birth control.

What's more, an Institute of Medicine report noted that women with unintended pregnancies are more likely to be depressed and to smoke, drink and delay or skip prenatal care, potentially resulting in premature birth or low birth weight.

The fact of the matter is, no matter where they go or what institutions do to prevent it, college kids are going to have sex, and most of them don't want babies. If the Church's priority is protecting the gift of life, they should embrace birth control as a way to ensure children aren't born to unfit parents.

I don't mean to tread on anyone's religious freedom, but Catholic institutions must understand that their fight against birth control is doing more harm than good.

Brian Alexander can be reached by email at alexander.record@live.com.