WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Convention's benefits entity has joined the growing chorus of evangelical and Roman Catholic voices publicly protesting the Obama administration's mandate that health insurance plans cover contraceptives, including ones that can cause abortions.

GuideStone Financial Resources, which provides health insurance coverage and other services to more than 200,000 people, expressed strong opposition Monday (Feb. 6) to the new federal rule, especially its failure to provide adequate conscience protections.

"This encroachment of religious freedom is blatant and outrageous and should be taken seriously by those of us who are part of the body of believers, as well as by others who respect and regard this nation's history and constitutional foundation," GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins said in a written statement.

Under final guidelines announced Jan. 20, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the controversial 2010 health care reform law would require health plans and insurers to provide no-cost coverage of contraceptives and sterilizations as preventive services. The "contraceptive mandate," as it has become known, requires all methods approved as birth control by the Food and Drug Administration to be included in a range of services offered to patients free of charge. Those FDA-endorsed contraceptives include ones that have abortion-causing properties -- emergency contraception, such as Plan B; the intrauterine device (IUD); and "ella."

" This encroachment of religious freedom is blatant and outrageous and should be taken seriously by those of us who are part of the body of believers." O.S. Hawkins.

The HHS rule includes an exemption for employers who oppose paying for such coverage on religious grounds, but critics say the religious exemption is too narrow. While it will protect many churches and other houses of worship, it does not appear it will cover all. The exemption also will not extend to such faith-based organizations as schools, hospitals and social service programs.

Richard Land, president of Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, have been among Southern Baptist and evangelical leaders who have decried the rule and its insufficient religious exemption. Land has described the combination as "bad news for freedom of conscience and for respect for the freedom of religion protections" in the Constitution, while Mohler said Obama "has trampled religious liberty underfoot." (See Mohler's first-person commentary in Baptist Press today, Feb. 6.)

While many evangelicals have publicly opposed the HHS rule, the Roman Catholic Church has led the resistance to the new regulation, which will affect its many hospitals, colleges and social service programs. Catholic bishops have said they cannot comply. Many American Catholics recently heard letters from their bishops decrying the rule read in masses.

In its Feb. 6 statement, GuideStone said it "strongly opposes any governmental intrusion on the ability of church health plans to reflect fundamental and long held religious convictions."

GuideStone described the 2010 health care law -- labeled by critics as "Obamacare" -- as "the greatest challenge ever confronted" by denominational church plans and said it is actively involved in seeking its total repeal. GuideStone also is part of a coalition of other church plans seeking "legislative and regulatory relief" -- including an adequate conscience clause -- from some of the law's effects, according to its statement.

GuideStone has not addressed the question of whether it will comply with the contraceptive regulation if an adequate religious exemption is not provided, said Timothy Head, the board's executive officer for denominational and public relations. GuideStone would prefer to address that question if and when it arises, he told BP. Read More