While everyone was watching the debt-ceiling debate, the Department of Health and Human Services announced mandatory coverage of contraceptives (including ones that may act as abortifacients) and sterilization in new insurance plans, with the narrowest of conscience protection.
In a statement in response to the move, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, who is chairman of the pro-life office of the bishops’ conference in Washington, explained that “under the new rule our institutions would be free to act in accord with Catholic teaching on life and procreation only if they were to stop hiring and serving non-Catholics.”
He asked: “Could the federal government possibly intend to pressure Catholic institutions to cease providing health care, education and charitable services to the general public? Health care reform should expand access to basic health care for all, not undermine that goal.”
The cardinal continued: “HHS says the intent of its ‘preventive services’ mandate is to help ‘stop health problems before they start. But pregnancy is not a disease, and children are not a ‘health problem’ — they are the next generation of Americans.”
Those opposing the new rules are simply saying: You can disagree with me on whether or not contraception has helped make a wreck of our lives. But don’t make me violate my conscience.
Quote: "Could the federal government possibly intend to pressure Catholic institutions to cease providing health care, education and charitable services to the general public?"
Yep. Consider places that require adoption agencies to serve same-sex couples equally with married heteros.
But that's not interesting. Here is what IS very interesting: The number of anti-Catholic government agents (governors, senators, representatives, etc.) who graduated from Catholic prep schools and colleges, the kind of place that selects students based on "leadership."
We can start with Jerry Brown.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe power to tax a thing is the power to destroy a thing. The power to regulate a thing is the power to manipulate and form a thing into anything you can. Regardless of your personal view on abortion this should scare ALL to the very core of their soul.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt does me. It's Nov 2012, or off the grid.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHealth care plans must cover contraception.
Yes, I am frightened to the core of my soul. The core!
Now can we get back to cutting taxes on the Kochs?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJust the beginning of Conscience Rights being violated by the Diversity Police....Wait until Fake Marriage becomes the law of the land!
Ungoodthink will be punished severely...
You must comply.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseand who was just cheering for a "victory" - a bill that deemed 2012 and 2013 budgets passed with Obamacare in them and HHS and other blood-sucking agencies with intact financing? Or now, that the bill is safely passed we will all pretend to be skeptics?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFrom the Pythonius Vitae of 1983:
External Link
Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.
CHILDREN:
Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.
GIRL:
Let the heathen spill theirs
On the dusty ground.
God shall make them pay for
Each sperm that can't be found.
CHILDREN:
Every sperm is wanted.
Every sperm is good.
Every sperm is needed
In your neighbourhood.
MUM:
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHindu, Taoist, Mormon,
Spill theirs just anywhere,
But God loves those who treat their
Se-men with more care.
This is mockery, not civilized argument. On top of it all, this shows that you do not have an original thought in your empty head.
Just so you know, I am Lutheran, not Catholic. I am not morally opposed to most contraception. I am morally opposed to forcing others to violate their morals. And I think it is sad that we are effectively reducing medical service to those who can afford it least just so you and your can get their kicks laughing at the moral prudes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"this shows that you do not have an original thought in your empty head"
Oh heck. And I was so happy with my double entendre of "Human Vitae of 1968" combined with "Python Life." I guess I'll just have to rethink things more cleverly for you.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Humanae", that is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseModLib has 'Henry Disease' - Taken seriously when he's joking and ignored when he's serious.
h/t for the MP riff.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYeah, that's the story of my life (and my own, bloody fault, of course).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWow- very impressive 8th grade poetry.
It would be great if you could do two things:
1) Address the idea of the state forcing someone to violate their conscience...
2) Thank God and His Church for providing the rich soil of Human rights and Human Dignity that recognizes your ability to abuse your freedom to do with what you want with your sperm.
Ask the people in China how life is when the Government cares about what happens to one's sperm (esp after creating another life).
Please man up and pick a side...
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Please man up and pick a side..."
I'm afraid that if Python's quoted "subtlety" isn't apparent enough, then blatancy and exclamation points would probably not be effective as well.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseModerately Libertarian - just wanted to let you know that you didn't spill your seed on entirely barren ground, despite the comments below.
For those who don't get the reference, see here: External Link
You're welcome!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnd one is once again left wondering why the GOP agreed to a "gutting of defense" trigger in the debt ceiling deal but did not likewise insist on an "automatic repeal of Obamacare" trigger to coerce Dem cooperation on the committee.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGee, I don't know, let me guess: because a bill like that could never pass?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf the Moron-in-Chief cannot understand why mandates like this drive up the cost of health insurance, can one of the administration braniacs ask him what he thinks would happen to auto prices if every car needed A/C, 16 speaker sound system, twin turbo engine and GPS? The stupidity of these people knows no bounds.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, because clearly the best analogy for health care is a luxury car.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo one is asking you to violate your conscience. No one is forcing you to use contraception. The ability of a woman to control what goes on in her own body is one of the most basic rights we have. I'm delighted that H&HS agrees with me.
And seriously, contraception has helped make a wreck of our lives? With my family history, I have little doubt that without contraception my house would look like the Duggars. Except that I would have better sense than to give all of my children names that start with the same letter. I am beyond grateful for the ability to chose when and how often to have children.
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