DALLAS — GuideStone Financial Services, a manager of pension funds for many Baptist church employees in the Mid-Atlantic, announced Feb. 4 it continues to oppose contraceptive regulations.
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, just four days after the administration released the healthcare reform rule revisions on mandated contraceptives, GuideStone issued a statement saying it will continue to contend that employers should not be compelled to provide contraceptives for their workers if it violates the employers’ religious beliefs.
GuideStone said it will formally submit statements highlighting the special considerations related to church plans during a public comment phase typically provided as part of the regulation process. Although acknowledging that the language of the proposed rules has eased anxiety somewhat, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins remains skeptical.
“Although it does appear that certain restrictions that could have limited the ability of churches to be exempt from these rules may have been eased, various areas are reserved for future rule-making, so definitive statements at this time regarding whether or how these proposed rules could actually work are premature,” Hawkins said.
Additionally, he stated, “We recognize, with regret, that these proposed regulations do not achieve the ultimate goal of removing objectionable forms of contraceptive coverage from the healthcare arena. We join with other believers and persons of conscience to pray and work toward that end. At the same time, we continue to press forward on the legislative and regulatory fronts to address this important issue in the context of church health plans. If those legislative and regulatory efforts do not bear timely and meaningful results, we will not hesitate to consider court action.
“GuideStone fully and fervently supports the actions of other believers who are pursuing actions in the courts, and we share the heart-felt concern of our fellow-believers that these proposed rules do not protect the religious liberty of all employers who seek to uphold and reflect biblical convictions.”
Jim White (jwhite@religiousherald.org) is executive editor of the Religious Herald.