College can opt out of birth control provision

Wheaton College has canceled its student medical insurance because it objects to providing birth control coverage (Daily Herald, July 29).

Like any other religiously affiliated institution, it doesn't have to provide birth control coverage, pay for it, or say even one word to its students. It merely has to ask to opt out.

But it refuses to file the form to ask for what it wants. It refuses to take "yes" for an answer.

This is truly a unique principle. Did Wheaton College get its religiously affiliated nonprofit status without filing any papers? Do Wheaton College's donors get a tax deduction automatically without filling out their tax return?

Could a religiously motivated conscious objector be excused from combat without at least filing the form asking for it?

The only bright aspect to this story is that nowadays many college students don't need Wheaton College's health insurance. Thanks to Obamacare, they can be covered by their parents.

Michael Glass

Glen Ellyn