religious employers must cover birth control

[Pollyanna]

I'm not sure it would make recruiting impossible because you will have private insurance companies tailoring policies just for these types of employees. Also, I think many people would like to work for an employer that they know stands firmly in their beliefs and follows through whether you are Catholic or not. On the plus side, I think it would eliminate people who have vehement opposition to the Catholic Church from taking up employment with a Catholic hospital (which I think is hugely positive).

[diggitydot]

I'm not sure it would make recruiting impossible because you will have private insurance companies tailoring policies just for these types of employees. Also, I think many people would like to work for an employer that they know stands firmly in their beliefs and follows through whether you are Catholic or not. On the plus side, I think it would eliminate people who have vehement opposition to the Catholic Church from taking up employment with a Catholic hospital (which I think is hugely positive).

You know, that's a really good point. I think it would drastically change the culture in religiously affiliated health care facilities and companies.

[Pollyanna]

You know, that's a really good point. I think it would drastically change the culture in religiously affiliated health care facilities and companies.

I think it would be really interesting to give it a try...

Look how nice we are all debating today. Yay us!!!

[corn poffi]

What about those that are Catholic, go to church every Sunday, are active in the church, etc. who think birth control is okay? I know plenty of Catholics who identify as religious who have no problem with birth control. To say that every single Catholic would be offended by this, or that every single religious person follows every single religious rule is unbelievably shortsighted.

[corn poffi]

Oh, and health care or no health care, anybody vehemently opposed to the Catholic Church wouldn't work for a Catholic organization anyway.

[SoonerTexan]

What about those that are Catholic, go to church every Sunday, are active in the church, etc. who think birth control is okay? I know plenty of Catholics who identify as religious who have no problem with birth control. To say that every single Catholic would be offended by this, or that every single religious person follows every single religious rule is unbelievably shortsighted.

I would argue there is a difference between the beliefs of a Church and the beliefs/actions of those who attend one. I also suspect that out of the apparently 98% of Catholics who disagree with the Church on the issue, less than 5% of them have taken the time to truly explore and understand the teaching. Religion isn't a democracy. That sort of negates the whole idea...

[v-girl]

What about those that are Catholic, go to church every Sunday, are active in the church, etc. who think birth control is okay? I know plenty of Catholics who identify as religious who have no problem with birth control. To say that every single Catholic would be offended by this, or that every single religious person follows every single religious rule is unbelievably shortsighted.

That is for their conscience and God to deal with -- I don't think the church will change the rules just because people don't want to follow them.

[scrub-jay]

I'm not sure it would make recruiting impossible because you will have private insurance companies tailoring policies just for these types of employees.

Not only do you have private insurance companies tailoring policies, but the government insurance exchanges will exist for individuals who cannot get insurance under other means (because everyone must carry some sort of insurance at that point).

[corn poffi]

But that's their prerogative. Are they not considered Catholic enough then? I didn't think that being religious meant you had to believe in every single bit of it.

[corn poffi]

I'm in no way suggesting the Church change rules on BC. I'm talking about the original argument as to whether religious organizations should have to listen to mandates that they may disagree with.

[SoonerTexan]

Corn poffi, there's a reason we have thousands and thousands of denominations today.

[v-girl]

But that's their prerogative. Are they not considered Catholic enough then? I didn't think that being religious meant you had to believe in every single bit of it.

Veering off topic here...

Is it okay with Judaism if the members eat non-Kosher and leave boys uncircumcised just because they don't like those parts of their religion? Pentecostal females can wear pants if they want despite what their religion says?

I'm pretty sure no matter how much people debate, religions aren't going to "change the rules" because some members find them inconvenient or just don't want to follow them.

[SuzySunshine]

Corn poffi, there's a reason we have thousands and thousands of denominations today.

Wow, that is quite the statement and one thing that kills me about ALL organized religions. Judging is done by Him, no one else. I am catholic, was raised catholic, my kids are catholic, my DH is catholic and we choose to stay in the church even though we may not agree with their stance on a few things. BC, infertility and stem cells being some of them. I think to say someone is less catholic or shouldn't be catholic because of that is far far reaching.

And we've never asked anyone to change it, people do that with their feet by leaving but after reading all of this maybe we should...

[corn poffi]

Right, but as an organization, would you want to exclude those that still identify those who identify as Catholic just because they have a few different beliefs? (Rhetorical question, no need to answer)

[SoonerTexan]

I'm still planing on writing a post trying to explain the beliefs, but it is going to take me getting an hour to
Sit down at the computer instead of snippets of posts on the phone while nursing