Bishop 'deeply concerned' by Mercy decision to offer same-sex benefits

The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau told the News-Leader last week that he is "deeply concerned" about Mercy's decision to extend benefits to same-sex spouses of employees this spring.

"The statement a Mercy spokesperson made to the Springfield News-Leader is more than disappointing," Bishop James V. Johnston said in a statement of his own.

Prompted by the recent extension of benefits at Springfield-based CoxHealth, the News-Leader on Tuesday contacted Chesterfield-based Mercy health system, which is affiliated with the Catholic church, regarding its own policy. CoxHealth is not religiously affiliated.

"As a Catholic health ministry, Mercy has followed the Church's position on this issue in the past," Mercy Springfield spokeswoman Sonya Kullmann said Tuesday. "However, in line with recent changes in government regulations, we will extend benefits to all legally married spouses effective this spring."

The bishop's statement, issued after he was contacted by the News-Leader, responded to specific phrasing by Mercy.

"Recognizing God's plan for marriage is not a matter of 'the Church's position,' as Mercy characterized it, but rather, one of God's own Word," Johnston said. "And while the statement does not specify the 'government regulations' Mercy claims to require this change, no believing Christian worthy of the name should violate God's law because of 'regulations.' Our ancestors refused to abandon the faith even when subjected to the cruelty and torture of the Roman Empire, but in our age unspecified 'regulations,' government funds, and fear of public ridicule is sufficient in order to secure the compliance of some."

Regarding the decision, the bishop said he "was not consulted or informed by Mercy."

Catholic teaching holds that marriage can only be between a man and a woman and that homosexual activity is sinful, although Pope Francis said last month the church needs to support families with gay children. Regarding the increase in the number of jurisdictions legalizing same-sex marriage, Johnston said Christians reject the view that "marriage is whatever the government says it is."

Mercy not alone in extending benefits

While the bishop's statement highlights the disconnect between the impending policy and Catholic beliefs, Mercy is among a growing number of church-affiliated institutions choosing to extend benefits to same-sex spouses. Approaches by the entities have varied, however, with some choosing to extend benefits only to gay couples that are legally married and others simply allowing an additional dependent adult — regardless of gender or relationship status — to be added to an employee's health plan. The latter can be seen by some as less of an endorsement of gay marriage.

Mercy's decision to extend benefits pertains to more than 40,000 employees companywide; about 9,000 reside in the Springfield metropolitan area. The nonprofit has hospitals in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and outreach ministries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. It is the sixth-largest Catholic health care system in the United States, according to its website.

CoxHealth said Tuesday its decision to extend benefits effective last October was "part of our strategic goal of attracting and retaining the best talent." Mercy cited changes in government regulations.

Asked Wednesday to cite the specific changes and whether Mercy is making the change because it feels legally required to, Kullmann said only that "Mercy is making this change to be in compliance with government regulations."

Neither Mercy nor CoxHealth's policies extend benefits to a domestic partner; they apply only to those legally married in some jurisdiction. Same-sex couples in Missouri can currently get married in the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County. Gay marriage is also currently legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

The News-Leader requested comment Wednesday from five other large Catholic health care systems regarding their health benefits. Wisconsin-based Mercy Health (which is different from Chesterfield-based Mercy), Edmundson-based Ascension Health and Washington-based Providence Health & Services did not respond.

According to the National Catholic Register, Colorado-based Catholic Health Initiatives — which operates in 19 states — said last year that it would begin offering benefits to same-sex spouses and domestic partners this month.

Asked to confirm that report, and the reason for the decision, spokesman Michael Romano passed on the following statement to the News-Leader.

"CHI believes that health care is part of the common good and is considered a basic human right," the company said. "And so it was important to make health benefits accessible to employees, their dependents and loved ones within the employee's family where possible. The goal of expanding coverage overall will continue to align more closely with the desired culture of supporting diversity and families. This change also serves the purpose of eliminating any perceived inequity of benefits by some employees and will help CHI to attract and retain talented employees, regardless of their sexual orientation or personal situation."

Romano did not respond to a follow-up question concerning the specific language of the change.

St. Louis-based SSM Health — which has facilities in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri — opened employee health plans to "legally domiciled adults" in 2003, according to spokesman Steve Van Dinter.

"Through this innovative and compassionate program, we have been able to extend health care coverage to hundreds of adult spouses, parents, children, and friends who reside with an employee and are not otherwise insured," Van Dinter said in an email.

To qualify as a legally domiciled adult under the plan, the individual must reside in the same home with the employee, be a member of the employee's household and be 19 years old or older. The first page of a Google search for "legally domiciled adult" is predominantly Catholic institutions explaining their benefit policies, including Loyola University Maryland, Georgetown University, Denver-based SCL Health and the University of San Francisco.

"As a Catholic health ministry founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, SSM Health believes that access to health care coverage is a basic good," Van Dinter said.

According to the National Catholic Reporter, 22 Jesuit universities around the country provided benefits to same-sex partners as of Oct. 30.

But some affiliated organizations don't appear interested in following suit. In 2010, the Washington Post reported that Catholic Charities decided to stop offering health benefits to spouses of new employees in the wake of the legalization of gay marriage in the District of Columbia.