Comment by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on February 5, 2013 at 12:00am

I care that working in any capacity in a Catholic school or hospital denies women birth control. If theistic institutions weren't given tax exemption they wouldn't even take so much market share in health care and education services that atheists are often forced to use them. Let them play on a level playing field and pay taxes on their land and income streams.

Comment by Donald R Barbera on February 5, 2013 at 5:36am

I am with you on that. I attended Catholic school and remember to this day the collective sigh of relief among Catholic men and women when "the pill" became avaiable. The Vatican said no, but the rank and file said screw you. Birth control is not for everyone, but eliminating it as a choice is not only irresponsible, but unconscionable.

Comment by Sentient Biped on February 5, 2013 at 7:26pm

I'm getting a bad attitude about Catholicism.  I never had a good attitude about the church, but lately it's very bad.  

Comment by jay H on February 6, 2013 at 7:59pm

For all of my adult life I have had medical coverage. I eventually got a vasectomy some years ago, but until that point, birth control was NEVER covered by any of our plans. It's just something we budgeted for. As someone pointed out, you don't get oil changes paid by car insurance, regular background expenses you pay yourself. Obama should have saved that fight for something more meaningful (in the sense that people are actively being denied critical access), like the abortion issue. Providing financial help to people too poor to afford birth control would have effectively bypassed this employer squabble.

Unfortunately Obama inadvertently made things worse by providing the religious 'exemption'. The dilemma is this: Buy legitimizing religion as a grounds to bypass this rule, there is a disconnect. If a priest or a minister need not meet that requirement, why not any other person who is just as devout? Why do only clergy get a conscience pass, and not others? Does their 'conscience' count less?

So this thing will continue to be fought, with the sides squabbling over an indefensible dividnng line.

Comment by Donald R Barbera on February 7, 2013 at 5:48am

Some of my concerns are covered in the original language, but it doesn't go far enough. First, it is biased toward women as far as birth control is concrned, but the avenues for obtaining birth control until recently have been numerous. Inadvertantly, I think the language of the propsal allows a few to speak for many. In this case religious leaders and so-called conscientious objectors. Wether the government forces it or not it is a topic that needs a public forum. Were 310 million and growing. We don't need any more people here imported or otherwise. Space has been one of out biggest assetts and out of control birthrates threatens the fine balance. That's a harsh judgement especially from a person that believes in the freedom of people to seek a better life.

Comment by Donald R Barbera on February 7, 2013 at 5:57am

I attended Catholic School before the days of Ecumenicalism. We were forbidden to attend any other church aside from a Catholic Church as all other Churches were considered illegitimate especially the Lutheran Church. The reasons for this were murky at best especially for a child, but by the time I was a teenager I understood that Martin Luther was the reason for Protestantism and the geometric split of the Church which continues to this day. Also, the Catholic Church has been continuously on the wrong side of science and reason for centuries. They don't get out much at the Vatican.

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