Derp!!!

[blueduck37.livejournal.com]

I am LOVING this scandal because of how it's exposing how many on the right view women.

Comments

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Luckily, the government's not doing that - it's just saying that Catholics cannot impose their opposition to birth control on non-Catholics.

...by imposing their opposition to Catholic doctrine on Catholics. You're utterly misunderstanding the protest.

And this current political fight pertains to government-mandated health insurance.

No, it pertains to private health insurance that private citizens are mandated to purchase. A significant difference.

The government cannot say "It is okay for employers who follow the following religions to refuse to allow their employees health insurance coverage for the following medications and procedures," because then the government is making laws respecting the establishment of religion.

Right. But they can say "It is okay for employers who have a religious objection to be exempted from this rule." It does not choose any religions over another, does not establish a religion, and treats everyone's beliefs equally. This sort of language is used constantly and without issue.

It also protects the differently-religious and non-religious from the religious, by ensuring the the government isn't throwing its weight behind one religion's mandates.

Absolutely, and a blanket religious exemption does not throw its weight behind any specific religion's mandates.

[pacotelic.livejournal.com]

You know, saying something should be available is not the same thing as forcing people to take it. If Catholics don't want to use birth control, they don't have to.

I don't smoke, for example, though I could buy a pack of cigs and start today if I wanted. If Catholics don't want, then don't

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. But what if I told you that you had to buy me smokes anyway?