Speaking of Contraception
The First Amendment now has been interpreted to mean that we churches, missions, lay orders, religious groups and non-profit corporations offering health care insurance to our employees, now have an additional year to comply with federal regulations issued by unelected bureaucrats requiring that we violate our deeply held religious principles.
I kid you not.
A statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius:
In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive services without charging a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible. The rule allows certain non-profit religious employers that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraceptive services. Today the department is announcing that the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA -approved forms of contraception. Women will not have to forego these services because of expensive co-pays or deductibles, or because an insurance plan doesn’t include contraceptive services. This rule is consistent with the laws in a majority of states which already require contraception coverage in health plans, and includes the exemption in the interim final rule allowing certain religious organizations not to provide contraception coverage. Beginning August 1, 2012, most new and renewed health plans will be required to cover these services without cost sharing for women across the country.
After evaluating comments, we have decided to add an additional element to the final rule. Nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law.
http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2012/01/outrageous-hhs-final-rule-catholic.html
It is for this reason that I no longer believe the political Left when they say they believe in the rule of law, the Constitution, or the concept of liberty. The idea of tolerating a Church among you whose precepts you do not share has become unthinkable to among leftists.
If any could answer, I would ask: How can there be peace or compromise between us, or civilization among us, if cannot bring yourselves to leave harmless nonconformists alone?
About John C Wright
John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.
