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March 14, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Catholic woman who engages in missionary work on college campuses says that she would rather risk her life by going without health insurance, despite a chronic ailment, than comply with the Obama administration’s coverage mandate against her conscience.

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Stacy Molai of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) told the Catholic News Agency this month that she would be “putting her life on the line” for her faith rather than pay into a plan that will be forced by the federal government to cover abortifacient drugs, sterilizations, and birth control.

“It’s that big a deal,” said Molai.

Molai said she knew she would also be in violation of the health care law’s mandate that each individual purchase health insurance, a violation that could end in jail.

And as registered nurse, Molai says she knows her stance could mean serious financial and medical risk: the 31-year-old suffers from Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disorder she told CNA that has previously required her to have four surgeries and numerous hospitalizations, and which can cost up to $400 per month in medical supplies. “Honestly, I could die,” she said.

Molai nonetheless says she is willing to face the consequences for the sake of “keeping a clear conscience,” and also with the hopes that her decision will “wake people up” to the seriousness of the mandate.

Jeremy Rivera, communications director of FOCUS, said in a March 6 statement that the group was “stand[ing] in solidarity” with Molai and her stance for religious liberty. “FOCUS is proud to have a woman like Stacy among our missionary staff,” said Rivera.

Read the full story on CNA here.