Group Local Of Women Head To D.C. To Rally Against Affordable Care Act
By Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A group of women from the Philadelphia Archdiocese are heading to Washington, D.C. today for a small rally against a part of the Affordable Care Act that mandates contraception coverage for women.
The rally in Lafayette Park is being hosted by a group called "Women Speak for themselves."
"I think a lot of women in government and in media are claiming to speak for all women when they say, 'We need free contraception and free access to abortion,' and we as women want to stand up and say, 'No, in fact you don't speak for all women," Meghan Cokeley said. She is leading a group of about 15 women from the Philadelphia Archdiocese to the rally.
Barbara Shinkle is along for the ride.
"If you own a business, you don't have the right to say that 'I don't believe this is the right thing to do, and I don't belive it's helpful to women, I think it's hurtful to women," she said. "So if you have that conscience protection you can opt out, but you don't have that clause now."
The government has made some changes to the mandate, but both Cokeley and Shenkle feel those changes don't go far enough.
