Despite mounting criticism, the Obama Administration is staying firm in defending it’s contraceptive rules, and has said it’s willing to work with Catholic institutions, universities, hospitals and other church-affiliated employers to implement a new policy that requires health insurers to offer birth control coverage.
Which is the right thing to do.
Here’s what was said:
“This is an important issue. It’s important for millions of women across this country. We want to resolve it in an appropriate way, and we’re going to do that.”
Here’s what the naysayers are saying:
“To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable.”
Really? Offering is now forcing? How is their conscience affected at all if they’re NOT REQUIRED to take the offered contraceptives?
That’s absurd. Just because an offer is made doesn’t mean it must be taken. Offer the contraceptives, and devout followers won’t take them. It’s up to them if they want to protect themselves. It’s that kind of close-minded thinking that hurts policies that have the public health in mind.
We just don’t see how any religious rights are affected at all if it all boils down to the patient’s choice.
And yet, that’s not stopping the Republican frontrunners from using volatile terms like “assault on religion” or “war on religious freedom.”
We’ll say it again: what freedom is gone if the choice is still there?
“This is an employee benefit issue. This is not the Catholic Church having to provide a service directly. No Catholic hospital is going to be required to write a prescription or provide a pack of pills.”
It really does seem like politics is just all about who can get offended and angry about what, how fast, and not about common sense and actually helping the people.
Think of the people!
[Image via AP Images.]
