birth control // The Observer

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Contraception advocacy groups sue University, cabinet agencies on behalf of Notre Dame health care plan beneficiaries

Observer Staff Report | Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Updated Wednesday at 10 p.m. A lawsuit challenging recent changes in University policy regarding birth control was filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern Indiana, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) announced in a press release Tuesday. The suit — filed by NWLC, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Center

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Speaking intelligently about the female body

BridgeND | Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Last week, against my best judgement, I wrote a column for The Observer titled “An Attack on Planned Parenthood is an Attack on Women’s Rights.” Even though the article was not about abortion, I was sincerely worried about the personal consequences of publishing it under my name. Primarily, I feared the damage that expressing my support

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We must band together for clarity and coverage

Letter to the Editor | Tuesday, February 20, 2018

When the federal government changed its regulatory guidance on the Affordable Care Act last fall, Notre Dame announced its intention to ensure that thousands of its students and employees would no longer be able to afford birth control. However, when the ensuing outrage of those living and working on campus, including a petition with over

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Give Notre Dame women the facts

Letter to the Editor | Wednesday, January 17, 2018

I am writing in response to the University’s reversal of its decision to end contraceptive coverage for staff and students. As a Catholic woman and an alumna of Notre Dame, I am concerned about what this decision means for all women within the Notre Dame community. Throughout the controversy of the U.S. Department of Health

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Insurance coverage for birth control

Letter to the Editor | Wednesday, December 6, 2017

There has been quite a bit of turmoil recently over the University’s willingness to give insurance coverage for our female students on birth control. The University has recently second guessed its willingness to continue providing coverage and, even though they decided to continue the insurance, there have still been heated arguments about many different aspects

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Dear Fr. Jenkins,

Letter to the Editor | Friday, November 17, 2017

Your decision to assure employees of our University that they will not lose contraceptive insurance coverage even though the use of contraceptives is not an accepted method of birth control by the Catholic Church is an another unfortunate mistake by your administration. Again, because of our University’s stature and notoriety, we have a pronouncement that

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Response to “Notre Dame doesn’t owe you birth control”

Letter to the Editor | Thursday, November 16, 2017

First, I would like to offer my support and appreciation to the University for reversing its oppressive decision to exclude birth control from employee health care plans. However, it is also necessary to address the rhetoric on campus that has encompassed the issue. Specifically, the letter to the editor entitled “Notre Dame doesn’t owe you

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Notre Dame doesn’t owe you birth control

Letter to the Editor | Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Firestorms erupted across social media after the University announced it would discontinue birth control coverage for students and employees. Students, alumni and pundits alike have shared their criticisms, showering the administration with a vast array of accusations ranging from elitism to misogyny. Insurers’ recent announcements that they will continue to provide birth control coverage regardless

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Disappointed in the University

Letter to the Editor | Monday, November 6, 2017

Dear Ms. Duffy, Do you know what I would fight for? Women’s health rights and equal access to modern healthcare. One of the great benefits protected by the Affordable Care Act is women’s access to these services, which positively impact social determinants of health and help progress equality for women and reality-based family planning. Notre

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Responsible parties

Raymond Ramirez | Monday, February 20, 2017

A brief tale set in a familiar country in a time that is, or is not, to be: There were no fireworks or formal observances, but a few editorial writers noted the 10-year anniversary of legislation that essentially eliminated abortion in the U.S. “It was amazingly quick in effect,” one writer noted, “within two years