Plattsburgh, Vermont - New regulations will require religiously-affiliated institutions to cover contraception like the oral birth control pill and the morning after pill.
The same rules don't apply to churches or places of worship. They are exempt from the health care mandate.
Still, Father Duprey at St. Peters Church in Plattsburgh, says this mandate goes directly against Catholic teachings.
"It's not the government's job to tell us what conscience is," says Duprey.
He says this is the first mandate that directly opposes the faith of the Catholic Church and his diocese won't comply. He says it forces them to violate their conscience.
"It's a private health insurance company that's being mandated to violate conscience," says Duprey.
He says the church will have two choices-- either go against their teachings or stop coverage for their employees and pay the fees that come with that.
Those fees would likely equal to the amount the church would pay for the insurance.
"We have big concerns about our social service agencies. We don't have a Catholic hospital here but other cities do and serve millions of people," says Duprey.
In a statement, the Obama Administration says, "This decision was made after very careful consideration, including the important concerns some have raised about religious liberty. I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services."
Still, Father Duprey says religious freedom is under attack.
"There are people who don't agree with every part of the teaching. That doesn't change the teaching," says Duprey.
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