I believe that I have taken enough time to think about this issue to be able to comment on it with some reasonable amount of candour and control.
I am almost an American Catholic; I have to finish my RCIA classes, but I am really close to getting there. I also have a degree in political science and history–and believe in our government. So, what’s going on here? The United States is a republic. And I am grateful for that. I don’t believe that people in California should be ruling my life in Illinois, or vice versa. Besides the difference in the region, there is a difference is geography, industry, and culture. The founders were smart in creating a democratic republic.
President Obama administration‘s health plan requires insurance companies for religiously funded institutions, except for physical churches, to fund birth control. Is that right? Is that fair? Before this measure was passed, 28 of the 50 states already had measures similar measures in place. And of those 28 states, 8 of them had absolutely NO exceptions for religious institutions. And under our nation’s great experiment, the states had the right to do that. Most Republicans firmly believe in state’s rights even if they don’t agree with them. And Democrats believe in anything that follows their mission. So the federal government stepping in like this–forcing schools, churches, charities, and other organizations to push their morals aside and fund something they don’t believe–is that a good thing? No!
Would an Atheist stand by when their child is forced to pray in school or pay for the town’s statue to the Virgin Mary? Never! When did the establishment clause mean that we can’t have any religion? I’ve heard the numbers: 99% of women have used contraceptives, and 98% of Catholic women have used contraceptives, but those Catholic women didn’t ask their Bishop for the pill. And forcing Catholic institutions to fund birth control is just that. Employment is a choice: one chooses to work for a religious institution. And choosing to work for a religious institution means that you know that you won’t get your birth control paid for. Is that too difficult to realize?
As a Catholic, my tithing goes to help pay for these religiously-funded hospitals, churches, and charities. And I have the right to live in a place where my money doesn’t go to pay for things I don’t believe in. If you live in one of the 8 states that don’t give exemptions, it is easy to move or fight. But it is much more difficult to move to another country. Whatever happened to the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution?
