In 2008, the parents of 11-year-old Kara Neumann made a choice. They decided that, per their religious beliefs, they would not seek medical attention for their ailing child. Instead, they would pray over her. Rather than “put a doctor before God,” Kara’s parents allowed her to die in some pain and were summarily charged with reckless homicide.

This tragedy provides both context and an important precedent for discussion on a recent federal health mandate. Effective this year, health care-providing organizations will be legally required to cover part of birth control costs as part of their employee health plans.

In a Jan. 8 column, Claire Chretien framed several common arguments against this mandate. Briefly summarized, she stated that the mandate was a violation of religious freedom because it required Catholic organizations to provide funding for services they believe are morally wrong.

Let’s be clear: Ms. Chretien is right when she says that all Americans have the right to free practice of religion. She’s also right that Catholic teachings condemn the use of contraceptives. But she’s wrong to assert that Catholic doctrine gives its followers license to ignore the health needs of others.

Obviously, Catholics who adhere to provisions against contraceptives use abstinence to prevent pregnancy. But they need to understand that, right or wrong, not everyone makes these life choices. For sexually active women, birth control isn’t a luxury good. It’s a tool that allows women to make their own decisions about reproduction, to safeguard their reproductive health and to dictate their own lifestyle. For many women who do not share Ms. Chretien’s particular beliefs, birth control is the thing that gives them the freedom to be self-governed and medically healthy.

Therefore, by refusing to offer birth control coverage as part of their health care plans, Catholic business owners would be denying essential health care to anyone who does not share Catholic values. As in the case of Kara Neumann’s parents, Catholic business owners’ rights end when their expression restricts others’ access to crucial health care.

In essence, every right has limitations. Freedom of speech doesn’t allow you to lie under oath. The Second Amendment doesn’t allow you to carry firearms into a post office. The American right to freedom of religion has been curtailed many times because the expression of one’s rights ends when it inflicts a certain amount of harm on others.

I genuinely sympathize with Catholics who own businesses and will soon be required to provide contraception to their employees. I can only imagine the difficulty of the situation they are presented with. However, it’s a sad fact that sometimes we have to choose which rights to honor, and, in this case, I sympathize more strongly with women who need access to birth control to maintain their health and lifestyle.

Sadly, women’s reproductive rights must come at the expense of business owners’ rights to deny their employees health care.

Nathan James is a junior majoring in public relations. His column runs weekly on Thursdays.