St. John's Students Debate Over Whether Religious Institutions Should Cover Contraception
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St. John's University students on both sides of the issue of whether religious institutions should provide coverage for contraception rallied in Jamaica, Queens on Thursday.
Members of the Students For Life group were joined by the Catholic students' group and the university ministry to say requiring St. John's and other religious institutions to cover contraception violates their right to religious freedom.
Last month, President Barack Obama attempted to broker a compromise by allowing religious employers to avoid paying directly for the coverage, shifting the burden to insurance companies.
Albany adopted a requirement in 2002 that any insurance policy with a prescription drug benefit provide coverage for birth control.
Catholic universities are not among the exemptions.
St. John’s officials told NY1 they are in compliance with state law, but declined to elaborate.