Americans are closely divided over a federal rule that would require employers, including most religious institutions, to cover birth control as part of their healt care benefits, according to the survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
Among the 62 percent of Americans who had heard about the controversy, about half, or 48 percent, support an exemption to the rule for religious institutions if they object to the use of contraceptions. And 44 percent say all employers should be required to cover contraceptions.
On Friday, in response to weeks of criticism and strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, the Obama administration said it would modify the mandate so that objecting religious organizations would not have to provide or pay for the coverage, but insurance companies would have to make it available to employees who wanted it at no additional charge to the employees.
The Pew survey, conducted Feb. 8-12, asked 1,501 adults about the issue. Among religious groups, 55 percent of Catholics favor giving religious groups an exemption from the federal rule, while 39 percent oppose an exemption. Among white evangelical Protestants, 68 percent favor a religious-objection loophole, while 22 percent oppose an exemption. Among white mainline Protestants, 44 percent favor an exemption, and 46 percent oppose one.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
