religious employers must cover birth control

[Pollyanna]

In the words of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: "There are not 100 people who hate the Catholic Church; But there are millions who hate what they believe the Catholic Church to be." I doubt those of you who have issues with the Church's stance have taken very little time if any to actually study why the Catholic Church believes as it does. Following your faith is not an easy road (it's not supposed to be), but those of us who live by it see the beauty the Catholic faith has created in our lives and see how living the faith in terms of birth control not only strengthens our faith but our marriages as well. It is a huge and scary leap of faith but one that pays off in ways I cannot describe and in ways that, many are scared to experience because in means trusting completely in God's plan for our lives. People can argue what they will about the Church's position on birth control but I think very few actually understand it. In the end, the Catholic Church should not be forced into going against its firmly held beliefs and I would not want to work for an employer that did.

[diggitydot]

I think the problem is that the Catholic Church, besides being a religious institution is also a very large employer. Large enough that they're required to abide by federal laws, even the ones that go against their belief system.

[v-girl]

I think the Catholic church is stupid (flame away)

Really Cassy? Was that necessary?

[Pollyanna]

I think the problem is that the Catholic Church, besides being a religious institution is also a very large employer. Large enough that they're required to abide by federal laws, even the ones that go against their belief system.

I completely disagree (but you know that). It amazes me that people feel so entitled that they want the entire Catholic Church to change to fit their needs. If you work for a Catholic employer you may do anything you want, you may take BC, you may have abortions, you may do whatever you want within the law. Your employer is NOT controlling you, but those you feel entitled what to control the Catholic Church and want it to change to suit their own needs.

[reciprocity]

the real issue is the same: whether, as a matter of federal constitutional, there is a limit to state involvement in the religious decisions of religious institutions is permissible and under what circumstances.

To my mind it is whether there is a limit to state involvement in the employment decisions of religious institutions, parallels with the recent SCOTUS ministerial exception decision (which would imply that yes there is a limit to state involvement in the employment decisions of religious institutions, but it may be more narrowly tailored than what the Catholic Church would prefer.)

[MarissaNicole]

Well, try $12 for your average BC pill at Costco (the pharmacy is accessible to anyone, member or not). Now I don't know how much it would be if you require some kind of special BC pill, but $60 sounds steep to me.

I think my nuvaring would have been about $75 a month. Granted there are other alternatives but they weren't for me.

I was totally planning on looking into an IUD after baby, but obviously that won't be an option for right now.

Now I am also curious how they would handle the cost of removing an IUD, I'll have to ask my friend because she got one put in under one insurance, and then had it removed recently and her husband now works for a Catholic hospital. Gosh this thread has just gotten my wheels turning, and I have so many questions, and am really not sure where I stand.

Any of you Catholics think the church will ever change their position on birth control? I guess I've always thought that eventually (perhaps 100 years) they will change their position on birth control. My issue is that I associate it with healthcare and medical advances in technology. I feel that if God gave us the advances to prevent birth or help a couple conceive it is along the same lines as the medicine we take, or surgical procedures used to extend our lives.

BUT at the same time, I do not think it is the government's job to interfere with the Catholic church's position on birth control.

[Deebs]

I think this is all politics. There are PUBLIC schools that refuse to teach sex education, as federally mandated, and just opt out of their fed funding for that portion of education. This is just one example. I don't necessarily agree with all of the teachings of the Catholic church, but it is a religion, and last I checked, in the USA, we still live in a country founded on the freedom of religion. We are on a slippery slope of infringing on the separation of church and state. It scares me.

[Pollyanna]

Any of you Catholics think the church will ever change their position on birth control? I guess I've always thought that eventually (perhaps 100 years) they will change their position on birth control. My issue is that I associate it with healthcare and medical advances in technology. I feel that if God gave us the advances to prevent birth or help a couple conceive it is along the same lines as the medicine we take, or surgical procedures used to extend our lives.

BUT at the same time, I do not think it is the government's job to interfere with the Catholic church's position on birth control.

No, it is a beautifully held position, not in a political way, but a position fully thought out and meant to allow God to work within our lives and marriages. If you are interested I would encourage you to do some research as to why the Church believes as it does. It is a very misunderstood position but much too long to explain here.

[SuzySunshine]

I think this says it well. The church should be able to pay for, or not, what they believe in and the government should stay out of it.

think this is all politics. There are PUBLIC schools that refuse to teach sex education, as federally mandated, and just opt out of their fed funding for that portion of education. This is just one example. I don't necessarily agree with all of the teachings of the Catholic church, but it is a religion, and last I checked, in the USA, we still live in a country founded on the freedom of religion. We are on a slippery slope of infringing on the separation of church and state. It scares me.

[diggitydot]

It amazes me that people feel so entitled that they want the entire Catholic Church to change to fit their needs.

I'm not sure if this comment is directed at me or not, but since you quoted my post I'll respond.

Personally, I don't give two shits what the Catholic church (or it's various businesses) choose to do or not do about, well... anything. I don't have a dog in this fight. We aren't religious, DH doesn't work for a religious organization, and we don't have a need for BC. I have zero desire to change any religious institution to fit my needs. I have no needs for them to fill.

If a Catholic/Baptist/Pentacostal/whatever wants to believe in any specific way or practice their faith, I'm all for their individual religious freedom. However, when the exercising of their religion impinges on another person's healthcare choices, I take issue. Period.

If a religious institution wants to be a larger employer and function as a business, they have to accept and deal with the secular world in which they will be required to function. If that includes abiding by federal law, so be it.

[Vanquisher]

I'm not sure if this comment is directed at me or not, but since you quoted my post I'll respond.

Personally, I don't give two shits what the Catholic church (or it's various businesses) choose to do or not do about, well... anything. I don't have a dog in this fight. We aren't religious, DH doesn't work for a religious organization, and we don't have a need for BC. I have zero desire to change any religious institution to fit my needs. I have no needs for them to fill.

If a Catholic/Baptist/Pentacostal/whatever wants to believe in any specific way or practice their faith, I'm all for their individual religious freedom. However, when the exercising of their religion impinges on another person's healthcare choices, I take issue. Period.

If a religious institution wants to be a larger employer and function as a business, they have to accept and deal with the secular world in which they will be required to function. If that includes abiding by federal law, so be it.

I totally agree.

[Pollyanna]

Nope, not directed at you DD. Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[weeniegeniewife]

I totally agree.

Me too.

[v-girl]

Wow. Whatever.

[Pollyanna]

Probably not but that's the way the mop flops. I'm not a fan of churches, period. Especially scandal-plagued self-righteous ones.

Impressive Cassy.