Bishops’ complaint an all-out war on contraception
I think it’s important to understand just what the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is demanding in its war against contraception coverage. Here’s USA Today on the matter:
The White House is “all talk, no action” on moving toward compromise, said Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “There has been a lot of talk in the last couple days about compromise, but it sounds to us like a way to turn down the heat, to placate people without doing anything in particular,” Picarello said. “We’re not going to do anything until this is fixed.”
That means removing the provision from the health care law altogether, he said, not simply changing it for Catholic employers and their insurers. He cited the problem that would create for “good Catholic business people who can’t in good conscience cooperate with this.”
“If I quit this job and opened a Taco Bell, I’d be covered by the mandate,” Picarello said.
In other words, the bishops are not merely demanding that church-affiliated organizations be exempted from the requirement that contraception be covered in health insurance. They are insisting that the contraception requirement be abolished altogether.
The proposed legislative fix endorsed by the bishops, HR 1179, makes that explicitly clear. It states that no insurer or employer can be required to provide coverage if paying for such coverage “is contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan; or (if) such coverage (in the case of individual coverage) is contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of the purchaser or beneficiary of the coverage.”
Again, that is not a fix limited to churches or church-affliated organizations. It would prohibit the contraception requirement across the board, for every employer and insurer.
If you had any doubts about how political this all is, that ought to resolve them. Twenty-eight states, including conservative Georgia, have had laws on the books for years that require contraceptives be covered, with not a squeak of protest or complaint.
And yet now it becomes a threat to religious liberty?
– Jay Bookman
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1,108 comments Add your comment
TnRealist
February 9th, 2012
1:53 pm
From downstaris……
February 9th, 2012
1:38 pm
After wading through 10 pages of comments I find it interesting that no one has pointed our the options of the Catholic hospital and universities or other such organizations have to avoid complying with the state or federal madates to provide birth control or reproductive services to their employees.
(1) Decide to not offer any health care coverage (or)
(2) Become a self insured entity and forego any particpation of a health care insurance provider
If option 1 is selected I can see many employees deciding to seek employment elsewhere and if they select option 2 then as the employer they will have to pay for any covered medical procedures out of income.
But if their principles are that important then they should not have trouble deciding on which option to select to avoid “goverment attacks on their religion.”
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
1:54 pm
“Insurance is a benefit, not a right”
gah.
yet another example of what is WRONG with America.
first, you don’t want the government to provide health care because employers do.
now, employers are saying it’s a benefit, not a right, and we should be happy with what we get.
you want to see the lowest common denominator the country is heading to??? there it is, right there.
Recon 2533 1811
February 9th, 2012
1:55 pm
poooooooooooooooooor USnowintheUK,
Yeah right…Politico. I won’t disparage their survey but if you asked Catholics along with many non-Catholics of faith and probably many others as well if they thought it was right for the federal government to mandate services that conflicted with a religious denominations doctrine that’s been practiced in this country under our Constitution since our beginning , they would say no it isn’t right. Politico didn’t ask that way.
Whatever
February 9th, 2012
1:55 pm
“all you’re doing is discriminating against women based on … what? … what YOU think / what YOU believe.
that’s not what America stands for – ”
All you’re doing is discriminating against Catholics based on….what?….what YOU think/what YOU believe.
that’s not what America stands for-
Whoops!
Joe Hussein Mama
February 9th, 2012
1:55 pm
Terrence — “A woman’s choice trumps another individual’s conscientious objection?”
Well, if you put it that way, sure. What conscientious objection could you possibly have that should be permitted to overrule, for example, my wife’s choice?
“Let us know when Unitarians, Mennonites, Jehovah’s Witnesses & Seventh-day Adventists are forced to engage in combat during wartime.”
Perhaps they’d be well advised to not volunteer for enlistment then. You know, considering that there hasn’t been a draft in 35+ years.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
1:55 pm
“Let us know when Unitarians, Mennonites, Jehovah’s Witnesses & Seventh-day Adventists are forced to engage in combat during wartime.”
their taxes are forced to pay for arms and the armed forces – you don’t think they have a problem with that???
barking frog
February 9th, 2012
1:55 pm
Many employers do not have employee insurance coverage, including
churches.
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
1:56 pm
I’ll stick to quoting Jesus so I don’t offend Thulsa by quoting Thomas Jefferson.
“Who ate all those fishes and loaves? They were for the party.”
~ Chris
TnRealist
February 9th, 2012
1:56 pm
In other words, religous entities please put YOUR money up to have what you want for your employees and your beliefs.
Thulsa Doom
February 9th, 2012
1:57 pm
“As long as they think someone else is paying for it, why worry about all the additional mandates put into insurance policies by the Feds”
And therein lies the problem. As long as someone thinks the govt, or an insurance co., or any 3rd party is paying for it costs will continue to rise. But despite this obvious common sense rule of thumb you will have libs with their rights revolution thinking that they have a right to this, that, and the other- paid for by some 3rd party of course.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
1:57 pm
Fnn – 1:56 –
Butch Cassidy
February 9th, 2012
1:57 pm
I’m still waiting on Recon et al.. to tell us all how indignant he was when Georgia passed this very same requirement 13 years ago. I guess Romney must have lost a lot of supporters as well since this the VERY SAME requirement he put into Romneycare. But hey, take your time, I’m retired, I have ALL day.
Bruno
February 9th, 2012
1:58 pm
and, no, saying that “people can buy it out of their own pocket” doesn’t cut it – at a cost of $20+ / month, all you’re doing is discriminating against women based on … what? … what YOU think / what YOU believe.
So now people paying for their own supplies constitutes discrimination??
USinUK–I’ve got to say, you’re really off your game today. If you could move past the entitlement mentality, you might see things more clearly.
barking frog
February 9th, 2012
1:58 pm
Finn McCool, Jesus’ other name isn’t Chris…
Joe Hussein Mama
February 9th, 2012
1:59 pm
B. Frog — “Finn McCool, Jesus’ other name isn’t Chris…”
Jesus Chris?
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
1:59 pm
“All you’re doing is discriminating against Catholics based on….what?….what YOU think/what YOU believe.”
dearheart – THAT is your problem – requiring EVERYONE to follow the SAME law is NOT discrimination.
in fact, it’s exactly the opposite:
dis·crim·i·na·tion
[dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuhn] Show IPA
noun
1.
an act or instance of discriminating.
2.
treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.
Libertarian
February 9th, 2012
2:00 pm
Why would anyone think its ok for the government to force an insurance company to provide free contraception? This is a great example of our government being overreaching.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:00 pm
“So now people paying for their own supplies constitutes discrimination??”
“People”????
ah, not. not “People”
WOMEN.
forcing WOMEN to buy a medication that is made for them and only them
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:00 pm
Do they pay for coverage of home delivery of said contraceptive devices? It’s so awkward and such a hassle to have to buy them at Walgreens.
Kamchak
February 9th, 2012
2:01 pm
“People try to put us d-down (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)”
– Thomas Jefferson
Thulsa Doom
February 9th, 2012
2:01 pm
Finn UnCool,
I’m not offended. I just think its sad to see folks mock one of the great thinkers of western democracy and one of our great founders. if you’re down with that then that’s all you sir.
But I am offended that the 6th grade jokes of our childhoods have more wit than the Thomas Jefferson quotes of the sheeple.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 9th, 2012
2:01 pm
Bruno, you seem to be avoiding the issue of the thread. Why does the Catholic Church feel is may impose its religious belief on the entire nation?
Whatever
February 9th, 2012
2:01 pm
Usink,
Requiring everyone to follow the same law has been held to be discrimination in our country. Forcing pacifists to serve in the military for one. So there is precedent for the very thing you argue against.
Corey
February 9th, 2012
2:02 pm
Can religion and sexuality ever be reconciled? I hear Paul was not married and traveled with a man as his companion. …just sayin
Mick
February 9th, 2012
2:02 pm
frog
Jesus wasn’t turning water into grape juice either…
Whatever
February 9th, 2012
2:03 pm
Keep,
They do not have the ability to force their beliefs on an entire nation. Why can’t they at least be left alone in this? If Obama hadn’t stirred it up we wouldn’t even having this discussion.
Bruno
February 9th, 2012
2:03 pm
you want to see the lowest common denominator the country is heading to??? there it is, right there.
USinUK–I was raised to believe that self-reliance is a virtue. Obviously you feel differently. So, let’s make a deal. You keep your view, and I’ll keep mine. Just please show a little respect for those who think differently. That is (supposedly) a hallmark of Liberalism, no??
Bishop Patrick
February 9th, 2012
2:03 pm
While we bishops have little direct experience with birth control, we are certain of our position.
GOD WILLS IT.
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:03 pm
Is it Kris?
I could just call him “The First and Original Sanctimonious Guy”
Loooooong before Ricky Santorum was ever born to save us all!
Talking Head
February 9th, 2012
2:04 pm
“dearheart – THAT is your problem – requiring EVERYONE to follow the SAME law is NOT discrimination.”
so I guess requiring everyone to show photo ID to vote would not be considered discriminatory since everyone would follow then? yes?
Joe Hussein Mama
February 9th, 2012
2:04 pm
Whatever — “Requiring everyone to follow the same law has been held to be discrimination in our country. Forcing pacifists to serve in the military for one. So there is precedent for the very thing you argue against.”
There’s no draft any longer, and there hasn’t been one since the mid-70s. Plus, pacifists in the military can obtain Conscientious Objector status; there’s a process for that.
So, to borrow your own words, there is precedent for the very thing you argue against.
Aquagirl
February 9th, 2012
2:04 pm
Let us know when Unitarians, Mennonites, Jehovah’s Witnesses & Seventh-day Adventists are forced to engage in combat during wartime.
Let us know when Catholics are forced to use birth control, instead of having to PAY for it….just as Mennonites have to pay taxes for wars.
You really didn’t think that example through before opening your mouth, did you?
Fred (I need a pill)
February 9th, 2012
2:04 pm
Whatever
February 9th, 2012
1:29 pm
Fred,
Thank you for deciding who has ‘whacked out crazy agendas’. Please come see me and tell me how I should live, too. I’m already excited to know that you have it all figured out and will fix everyone’s agenda so they can be just like you.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh I don’t want you to be like me Whatever, I just want you to pull your head out of your ass. This isn’t 1800’s Ireland where the Catholic Church is telling the populace that can’t feed the mouth’s they have to continue having babies. This isn’t South and Central America where the Catholic Church is telling people to have babies they can not feed. This is AMERICA. One of the bertter educated (well maybe except for you) Countries on the face of the earth. A place where people can and DO choose when to have children because of the wonders of modern science.
A place where women with incapacitating menstrual cramps can take the pill for relief, well unless of course the Catholic Church has it’s way……………
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 9th, 2012
2:04 pm
But I am offended
Well that does it…. if Doom is offended, well then what horrors are next? Oh the pout! Seems Doom has no problem offending with his posts but god forbid anyone offend him….
Those that cannot see shall be doomed to stupidity
Recon 2533 1811
February 9th, 2012
2:05 pm
“I guess your okay with the state doing it as long as it isn’t suggested by Obama.”
Butch, you’re attempting to make an argument by introducing an entirely different one. I’m not going to go there, however, I will say that I’m personally not in disfavor of contraception. I’m in disfavor of abortion and the government forcing a religious institution to go against their church doctrine by providing free abortion pills or contraception. I haven’t read or heard anything about the State of Georgia forcing Catholic institutions or other religious institutions to provide contraception pills/devices much less abortion pills.
Butch Cassidy
February 9th, 2012
2:05 pm
Libertarian – “This is a great example of our government being overreaching.”\
Glad to hear it, why don’t you provide us all with a copy of the letter you plan to send to the Georgia legislature demanding that they remove this provision. Afterall, isn’t 13 years of paying for contraception enough?
Thulsa Doom the bookie
February 9th, 2012
2:05 pm
Guy Incognito,
I got ya for a C-note on 50 lame Thomas Jefferson quotes. I was thinking about offering a prop bet on what would be the lamest of the Jefferson quotes. Problem is that there are soooo many to choose from. Sooooo many….
Fred (I need a pill)
February 9th, 2012
2:06 pm
Misty Fyed
February 9th, 2012
1:31 pm
Fred. you do need a pill. You have no right to force your belief on your employer.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I haven’t had an “employer” for over 20 years…………….
barking frog
February 9th, 2012
2:06 pm
Other news in Congress: The Republicans want to require drug
testing for unemployment benefits and the Democrats want to
cut unemployment benefits by six weeks to pay for continuing
the payroll tax cuts which give a 20 dollar a week pay increase to
someone earning 50,000.00 a year. Who knew the criminally
unemployed were costing the middle class so much and that
it was so important to both parties.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:06 pm
Mick – 2:02 – was it Ribena?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 9th, 2012
2:06 pm
If Obama hadn’t stirred it up we wouldn’t even having this discussion.
Righttttttt….. it’s Obama’s fault. All was well before. Oh Obama has victimized us!
So why are you not telling the Catholic Church to back down to a position that does not impose its religion on everyone?
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:07 pm
“so I guess requiring everyone to show photo ID to vote would not be considered discriminatory since everyone would follow then? yes?”
Talking – and we all know equitably Jim Crow laws were administered …
stands for decibels
February 9th, 2012
2:07 pm
its sad to see folks mock one of the great thinkers of western democracy
“Hee hee. They really swallowed that ‘watering the tree of liberty’ BS of mine hook, line, and sinker! Sure is nice not to have to lift a finger to fight, myself. I’m feeling so good, I think I’ll call on that fiiiine Miss Sally to give me some a’ that brown sugar after dinner tonight.”
–Thomas Jefferson
Butch Cassidy
February 9th, 2012
2:07 pm
Recon – ” I haven’t read or heard anything about the State of Georgia forcing Catholic institutions or other religious institutions to provide contraception pills/devices much less abortion pills.”
It’s the same provision that states (including Georgia) have had for years. It only became an issue when Obama started talking about it. That’s why it’s so ridiculous for anyone to try and grand stand on the issue now. Where were all these voices of concern for the past decade?
Libertarian
February 9th, 2012
2:07 pm
Butch Cassidy
February 9th, 2012
2:05 pm
If that is true then I need a refund for the past 10 years that I’ve been paying for mine out of pocket…with no help from my insurance company. Even though your comment is unnecessarily snarky, I agree with your premise.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:08 pm
Recon – 1:55 – I provide you with 2 different surveys showing you the same thing and that’s the best you can come up with??? disparaging Politico???
paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaathetic.
jconservative
February 9th, 2012
2:08 pm
“Twenty-eight states, including conservative Georgia, have had laws on the books for years that require contraceptives be covered, with not a squeak of protest or complaint.”
Georgia Code – O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.6 (2011)
c) Every health benefit policy that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this state or approved for issuance or renewal in this state by the Commissioner on or after July 1, 1999, which provides coverage for prescription drugs on an outpatient basis shall provide coverage for any prescribed drug or device approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use as a contraceptive.
Note the exception: “…which provides coverage for prescription drugs…”.
A policy without a provision for drug coverage is not required to provide for contraceptive coverage.
This discussion” is not about contraceptives. Any female can go to any public health clinic and receive contraceptives free of charge.
This discussion is about the US Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
The HHS decree prohibits the Catholic Church (among others) from the free exercise of its religion.
In other words the Catholic Church is free to worship as it pleases but is not free to practice its religion in the public arena. Catholics are free to worship God but are not free to obey his teachings.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:09 pm
Butch – 2:07 – which is exactly why I said that all this posturing has more to do with the fact that it came from the Obama white house than any BS about people’s “deeply held religious beliefs”
AmVet - Just say no to Republicans who obsess over you
February 9th, 2012
2:09 pm
The Roman Catholic Church is dying a slow, ugly death of it’s own making.
Since the 1960s, four American-born Catholics have left the church for every one who has converted, according to a 2009 Pew study. In 2008 alone, Catholic membership declined by 400,000. More than 1,000 parishes have closed since 1995, and the number of priests has fallen from about 49,000 to 40,000 during that same period. Some 3,400 Catholic parishes in the U.S. now lack a resident priest.
And the plethora and magnitude of the sex scandals has only accelerated the decline.
So long and thanks for all the fish…
Talking Head
February 9th, 2012
2:10 pm
““so I guess requiring everyone to show photo ID to vote would not be considered discriminatory since everyone would follow then? yes?”
Talking – and we all know equitably Jim Crow laws were administered …”
Classic liberal deflection in defeat.
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:10 pm
so I guess requiring everyone to show photo ID to vote would not be considered discriminatory since everyone would follow then? yes?
By jove, I think he’s got it!
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:10 pm
“Catholics are free to worship God but are not free to obey his teachings.”
okay, I’ll play: show me where Christ had anything whatsoever to say about birth control.
AmVet - Just say no to Republicans who obsess over you
February 9th, 2012
2:10 pm
Oh and BTW,
Homie don’t play that. ~Tommy “The Clown” Jefferson
pat
February 9th, 2012
2:11 pm
Wow! Christian bigotry lives on unabated.
How about not mixing church and state? How about keeping the state out of church affairs. Oh what, so as long as obama does it it’s ok to to trample the rights of the church?
TaxPayer
February 9th, 2012
2:11 pm
What about my feelings! – Thomas “Doom and Gloom” Jefferson
Fred (I need a pill)
February 9th, 2012
2:11 pm
Bruno
February 9th, 2012
1:43 pm
As long as they think someone else is paying for it, why worry about all the additional mandates put into insurance policies by the Feds.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You bring up ANOTHER issue that bites my butt. I’ve said for years that the Feds need to either completely get the hell OUT of health care or take it over. This half and half crap where they pander to the highest bidder is for the birds.
Sorry I’m behind. I was reading the Mommania blog lol. Quite interesting today……….
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:11 pm
Talking – 2:10 – darlin, it’s the Jim Crow laws that are the reason people look at Voter ID laws with a jaundiced eye
precedent of abuse.
barking frog
February 9th, 2012
2:11 pm
Mick, 2:02, no he wasn’t acccording to the New Testament
if you believe it. They also list him as Christ not Chris like
Finn McCool.
Butch Cassidy
February 9th, 2012
2:12 pm
In defense of the Catholic church, I will say that without them I could not have had the religous upbringing that I did. Of course, I’m Lutheran. Just sayin.
stands for decibels
February 9th, 2012
2:12 pm
A policy without a provision for drug coverage is not required to provide for contraceptive coverage.
But how many health insurance plans offered don’t include provisions for prescription drug coverage? Can’t imagine it’d be many. Back when I was paying my family’s health insurance entirely out of my own pocket, via a truly lousy high-deductable plan, there was prescription drug coverage. It sucked, but it was there.
Talking Head
February 9th, 2012
2:12 pm
“Wow! Christian bigotry lives on unabated.
How about not mixing church and state? How about keeping the state out of church affairs. Oh what, so as long as obama does it it’s ok to to trample the rights of the church?”
yeppers
TaxPayer
February 9th, 2012
2:12 pm
okay, I’ll play: show me where Christ had anything whatsoever to say about birth control.
I think it’s right there next to the section that talks about abortion but I could be mistaken.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:13 pm
TaxPayer – “I think it’s right there next to the section that talks about abortion but I could be mistaken.”
right after that LONG chapter about homosexuality
Butch Cassidy
February 9th, 2012
2:14 pm
pat – “Oh what, so as long as obama does it it’s ok to to trample the rights of the church?”
No one said that, but I suggest you write to the Georgia legislature and to the Romney campaign and inform them of your displeasure with them for having supported this very same requirement for the last 15 to 20 years.
Aquagirl
February 9th, 2012
2:14 pm
Any female can go to any public health clinic and receive contraceptives free of charge.
No.
This has been another edition of “Menz Making An @$$ Out Of Themselves Thinking They Are Experts In Women’s Contraception.”
There’s a lot of that going around lately.
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:14 pm
so, let’s see …
corporations are people.
hospitals and schools are the church.
and the door is ajar.
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:14 pm
I think this whole brouhaha is just an attempt by Obama to steer our eyes away from the grossly depressing Republican primary season.
“Nothing to see here, folks. No, the democratic process isn’t always this sad…”
Kentucky Jacket
February 9th, 2012
2:15 pm
To me, this is above and beyond “religious discrimination” or “Forcing a thoecracy”. This is going to be the spirit of the battles that are waged in America as we move further along as a mixed capitalist society in regards to Federally concentrated power. We do things as a society to “protect” everyone, but it can put us in a bad situation. I don’t know contraception prices, but if prescription ones are reasonably expensive, as a society we have put people in a position of HAVING to have insurance to afford it. At the same time, we force people to pay for something that “beneifts” another individual (note individual, not society as a whole) that is counter to their conscience. Akin to allowing alcohol to be purchased with food stamps…I don’t drink to excess, but think people should be able to make up their own minds about it. however, should my tax $$ go to fund a behavior that is against my conscience?
There are no easy answers, because we are where we are, but I do think there is no happy medium. As a society, we either need to focus on more personal responsibility, or on more collective respobsibility, but we are at a spot in the middle now that is unacceptable to all…
And don’t get me wrong…I don’t think all personal or all collective is the answer, but I think to have any semblance of functionality, we have to move right or left…
Libertarian
February 9th, 2012
2:15 pm
“okay, I’ll play: show me where Christ had anything whatsoever to say about birth control.”
Its pretty irrelevant what “Christ” said. If my religion is to wear purple socks everyday I should be allowed to do it (according to the first amendment).
USinUK
February 9th, 2012
2:16 pm
and, with that …
I’m heading out into the cold …
“I’m gonna make like a banana and split” – Thomas Jefferson
Mick
February 9th, 2012
2:16 pm
usinuk
No, it was welch’s…
Thulsa Doom the bookie
February 9th, 2012
2:16 pm
Doomy is not just offended by stupid sheeple posts for their lameness. He’s also deeply hurt, saddened, and depressed over the complete lack of eloquence, originality, and the outright juvenality of them.
I have only myself to blame though for trying to hold the sheeple to reasonable expectatations of humor and wit. So I shouldn’t have been surprised when the lameness of their posts reached a new low.
I had forgotten about the liberal policies of reducing everything to its lowest common denominator whether it be education, debate, and now humor. Return to year zero as Pol Pot would say.
Oh well. I’ll just have to get over my melancholy and escape the librul’s pit of intellectual despair.
Corey
February 9th, 2012
2:17 pm
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed off Thursday on Atlanta-based Southern Co.’s request to build two 1,100-megawatt reactors at its Plant Vogtle site in Burke County. The first approval in decades.
The nerve of that socialist regime headed by Mr. Obama to grant approval to a southern based, red state, private sector energy company so they can create jobs, produce clean energy and keep energy costs down. The nerve!
TaxPayer
February 9th, 2012
2:17 pm
TaxPayer – “I think it’s right there next to the section that talks about abortion but I could be mistaken.”
right after that LONG chapter about homosexuality
That’s the one! Now what was that verse number. Where is scout when you need him.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 9th, 2012
2:18 pm
jconservative — “The HHS decree prohibits the Catholic Church (among others) from the free exercise of its religion.”
I dont see anything in the Constitution about extending First Amendment rights to churches.
“In other words the Catholic Church is free to worship as it pleases but is not free to practice its religion in the public arena.”
I don’t see anything in the Constitution about churches having rights.
“Catholics are free to worship God but are not free to obey his teachings.”
Bulldada. Nothing we are discussing would force or compel anyone to use BC who doesn’t want to do so.
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:18 pm
okay, I’ll play: show me where Christ had anything whatsoever to say about birth control.
I think it’s right there next to the section that talks about abortion but I could be mistaken.
No, its next to the part where he said we should put these three (oops), two stone tablets in every frickin public spot on the planet…..and totally ignore all 10 bulleted points.
Thulsa Doom the bookie
February 9th, 2012
2:18 pm
Guy Incognito,
The sheeple have been fed a lot of raw meat today. You’re looking good on your over wager!
Kamchak
February 9th, 2012
2:19 pm
Oh well. I’ll just have to get over my melancholy and escape the librul’s pit of intellectual despair.
“Toodles.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2012
2:19 pm
Bishops overreach…..again.
And they wear silly hats, too.
pat
February 9th, 2012
2:19 pm
So what you have openned up Jay is a Catholic bash session. Let’s be honest.
See like long ago when you were espousing the rightness of the Dutch Government to illegally raid the church archives. Of course you never did report the results of the raid, here I will tell you. They found nothing.
So liberal thinking goes like this: It’s wrong to hate gays, muslims, minorities, fat people, etc. But its a-ok to vocally hate Christians and Christianity. That’s whats really happening here.
You deliberately opened the doors for hate speech against Catholics and the church because you hate Catholics and the Church. This is all just Christian bashing, you know damn well that the clause in the health bill mandating this is illegal and unconstitutional. There is no argument on that.
But why miss an opportunity to do some good ol’ fashion Christian bashing. That’s all that’s going on here. To say otherwise is a lie.
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:20 pm
Oh, no, i remember!!!
It’s right after the part where Frodo throws the ring into the fire….
Jefferson
February 9th, 2012
2:21 pm
Let the litigation begin, in the mean time pound sand.
TaxPayer
February 9th, 2012
2:21 pm
Steel isn’t strong, boy, flesh is stronger !
– Thomas “Doom and Gloom” Jefferson
Talking Head
February 9th, 2012
2:21 pm
If Obama was Catholic, all the libs would be defending Catholicism…which ever way the wind blows
Butch Cassidy
February 9th, 2012
2:21 pm
pat – “you know damn well that the clause in the health bill mandating this is illegal and unconstitutional. There is no argument on that.”
Actually there is. And if you spent anytime reading the responses on here, you would see how utterly foolish and hypocritical you’re being.
Recon 2533 1811
February 9th, 2012
2:22 pm
“I provide you with 2 different surveys showing you the same thing and that’s the best you can come up with??? disparaging Politico???”
USinUK, your problem is that you can’t come up with one that proves your point. The fall out from this issue will unfold over time and quite possibly at the November voting polls where it will be determined if it had any impact on the election. That question won’t be determined by any survey Politico comes up with that you would like to believe proves your point. The Obama administration is appearing to back peddle on this issue and that says they’re not taking any poll to the bank.
Adam
February 9th, 2012
2:22 pm
Whatever: Well then, who are we to tell people they have to pay taxes, if taxes are “against their beliefs”?
pat
February 9th, 2012
2:23 pm
Butch, do some homework yourself. Catholic Church institutions in Georgia do not pay for coverage of BC, sterilization, Abortificants, nor abortion services. I know this for a fact. Some of us work in the industry…. We know first hand what is and what is not covered.
Terrence
February 9th, 2012
2:23 pm
A statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/01/20120120a.html
“We intend to require employers that do not offer coverage of contraceptive services to provide notice to employees, which will also state that contraceptive services are available at sites such as community health centers, public clinics, and hospitals with income-based support.”–Kathleen Sebelius 2012
Why not just leave it at that?
The president is suffering from a self-inflicted wound.
Aquagirl
February 9th, 2012
2:23 pm
should my tax $$ go to fund a behavior that is against my conscience?
Pacifists don’t get a 50% reduction in their income taxes.
Scientologists don’t get out of funding Medicare/Medicaid.
Zero Population growth believers still have to pay property taxes for schools.
Why are these any different? BTW “that’s not about evil vajayjays” is a pretty lame answer.
Libertarian
February 9th, 2012
2:23 pm
“So liberal thinking goes like this: It’s wrong to hate gays, muslims, minorities, fat people, etc. But its a-ok to vocally hate Christians and Christianity. That’s whats really happening here. ”
I’m not a religious person, but I have to agree with you here. There are a lot of hypocritical liberals on this blog and in this country. They want freedom for some, not all.
Davanna
February 9th, 2012
2:24 pm
There are some damn fine comments to be found here.
willie lynch
February 9th, 2012
2:25 pm
This Catholic moralizing is making me sick. There should have been this outraged when it came time to completely overhaul the system that permitted rampant pedophilia. I bet they would be all for allowing free contraception if little boys could get pregnant.
The Catholic church has given up it’s moral authority. In my book it never should have had any.
Thulsa Doom
February 9th, 2012
2:25 pm
Oh lawdy I just realized I’ve been shirking my responsibilites. The girl down the street is 25-30, single, and I’ld be shocked if she aint doing the naughty. I gotta run down their and give her my $25 share this month to pay for her birth control if indeed she is on the pill. It just aint right that she should have to pay for it by herself. It just aint!
pat
February 9th, 2012
2:26 pm
“Actually there is. And if you spent anytime reading the responses on here, you would see how utterly foolish and hypocritical you’re being.” —- It’s all hate speech, you’re the hypocrites.
And the OP knows damn well he started this blog in order to draw anti-Catholic hate speech, period.
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:27 pm
If Obama was Catholic, all the libs would be defending Catholicism…which ever way the wind blows
Instead we are stuck defending Islam for 4 more years. shhesh
Adam
February 9th, 2012
2:27 pm
It is not ok to hate Christians. It IS ok to call them out for being stupid. Much as it would be if a gay man or a woman or a black person was being stupid. It is STUPID to think this provision, which is a carbon copy of almost all of the 28 dates that have similar provision, is ZOMG ATTACK ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!
Stop pretending the First Amendment is an excuse to ignore any law you feel like.
willie lynch
February 9th, 2012
2:28 pm
Libertarian
February 9th, 2012
2:23 pm
And conservatives want you to fight to the death for the right to own a gun, but don’t want a woman to have the right to choose what she does with her own body. Do you people hear yourselves?
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 9th, 2012
2:28 pm
It is against my beliefs to drive on the right side of the road.
Normal
February 9th, 2012
2:29 pm
Sex is NOT naughty. It IS natural and WONDERFUL!