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President Michael F. McLean recently appeared on Radio Maria’s “Gospel of Life” program to discuss 91����’s challenge of the HHS Contraceptive Mandate, which is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. His host on the March 1 broadcast was Rev. Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life and one of the College’s co-plaintiffs in the case of Zubik v. Burwell.

Over the course of the 30-minute interview, Dr. McLean and Fr. Pavone discussed their reasons for challenging the mandate, which compels Catholic organizations to facilitate free contraceptive, abortifacient, and sterilization coverage for their employees. “When it comes to the provision of health insurance to our employees — which we feel we have something of an obligation to do — we have always done so in a way consistent with our faith and the teaching of the Catholic Church,” said Dr. McLean. “We do that because we want to model for our students our unity with the teaching Church and model that as well to our benefactors, to our alumni, and to those who in any way support 91����.”

At stake in this case, Dr. McLean explained, is the very notion of religious liberty, as expressed in the First Amendment, which “is an integral part of the dignity of man, and our dignity as rational creatures,” and “goes above and beyond merely worshipping on Sunday or saying private prayers.” After the introduction of the HHS Mandate four years ago, he told Fr. Pavone, the College recognized that religious liberty in the United States was at risk. “We felt the time had come to really stand up and fight along with your organization and many other faithful Catholic organizations, to fight this mandate and to really bear witness to the teachings of the Church.”

A longtime friend of the College, Fr. Pavone has visited campus several times. “I look forward to coming back sometime soon,” he told Dr. McLean. “In our work at Priests for Life, and also in my interaction with the pro-life movement nationwide, we have had the pleasure of seeing in action many of the alumni of Thomas Aquinas, and they are impressive young men and women, I can tell you that.” Expressing gratitude for these kind words, Dr. McLean, thanked Fr. Pavone for “the work you have done in the pro-life movement over many years,” adding, “We are grateful for the example you have set and for the courage you have shown in this fight — the fight over the HHS Mandate — and on behalf of the pro-life cause more generally.”

Audio of the interview is available at the top of the page, and the is available via the Radio Maria website.