Thomas: 'I stand with Catholics' in birth control fight

WATERTOWN, Mass. -- Tim Thomas is voicing his opinions, again.

The Boston Bruins netminder offered his thoughts on the current birth control controversy via his Facebook page. On Wednesday, Thomas posted: “I stand with the Catholics in the fight for religious freedom.”

On Thursday, Thomas showed how he can stop more than a puck -- he stopped the media dead in its tracks after warning them he was not going to answer anyone’s questions regarding his personal beliefs.

“We can do this every day, but from now on, the first question I get about it every day, I’m done interviewing for that day...I’m out, peace,” Thomas said after the team’s practice at Ristuccia Memorial Arena in Wilmington.

Thomas showed he is fed up with being hounded by the media who continues to ask him about his personal beliefs that he posted publicly on his Facebook fan page.

“This is my job. Facebook is my personal life. That’s why. If you folks don’t understand the difference between an individual and what they do as a job, or an athlete and his person life, then I think there’s a problem,” Thomas said.

Last month, Thomas refused to attend a Stanley Cup celebration hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House. Thomas explained on his Facebook page later that day that he skipped the event because he feels the U.S. government is currently threatening the rights of its citizens.

Thomas’ most recent post about the right for religious freedom is an apparent dig at the Obama Administration’s directive that all health insurance, including the Catholic Church’s, provide coverage for birth control.

This birth control policy has triggered an emotional battle on Capitol Hill.

“This attack by our government on religious freedom in our country must not stand and will not stand,” said House Speaker John Boehner.

The goaltender continues to defend his right to keep his public and personal life separate.

“I don’t think that when you become an athlete that you sign away your right to be an individual and to have your own views and to be able to post them on Facebook if you’d like,” Thomas said.

His teammates support his right to do so. Bruins forward, Milan Lucic, says everyone knows Thomas has strong opinions and that he is entitled to all of them.

“You know, we know how Timmy is. You know, he does a great job stopping the puck and if he is doing that well, we’re happy with him,” Lucic said on Thursday during the team’s annual pajama drive.

Thomas was ready for the barrage of questions on Thursday but he reserved his right to remain silent.

Viewer Voices: Should religious institutions be required to cover birth control under their health care plans? What do you think of Tim Thomas' comments? Comment here.

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