Because separation of church and state, that's why.
But violating freedom of religion violates that separation.
Because it would violate the Establishment Clause if religious employers could control what healthcare services their employees could access REGARDLESS of the employees' religious status.
The Establishment Clause is about the government, not private industry.
And since the insurance is state-mandated, the state damn well has an interest that can't be overruled by church doctrine.
Except the First Amendment protects the religious from the government. Again, if we're talking separation of church and state, if we're talking about the free exercise of religion...
In this specific case even moreso, since the Catholic prohibition on birth control applies ONLY to Catholics, even in the wording of their own doctrine.
Not really, no. Any exemption being trotted out does not specify a specific religion, because that would show favoritism toward a certain religion in violation of current belief regarding the establishment clause.
no subject
But violating freedom of religion violates that separation.
Because it would violate the Establishment Clause if religious employers could control what healthcare services their employees could access REGARDLESS of the employees' religious status.
The Establishment Clause is about the government, not private industry.
And since the insurance is state-mandated, the state damn well has an interest that can't be overruled by church doctrine.
Except the First Amendment protects the religious from the government. Again, if we're talking separation of church and state, if we're talking about the free exercise of religion...
In this specific case even moreso, since the Catholic prohibition on birth control applies ONLY to Catholics, even in the wording of their own doctrine.
Not really, no. Any exemption being trotted out does not specify a specific religion, because that would show favoritism toward a certain religion in violation of current belief regarding the establishment clause.