Government Mandated Healthcare for Women

As the Republican Primaries reach a furious pitch, we see more mud being tossed in the wind and even at the proverbial ‘wall’ these days.  The idea that candidates would toss out subjects that are near and dear to hearts of the voters is not only typical, it is to be expected.  Thusly, there were no surprises when Republican candidate, Newt Gingrich, decided to highly politicize the matter of the Obama Administration mandating that religious organizations, such as Catholic Hospitals and Universities, provide free contraception to include the ‘Morning After Pill.’  When I read that this was the case a red flag instantly went up. 

There is, and has always been, the idea that government is not allowed to infringe upon a religious organization’s right to practice their belief.  When it comes to Catholicism it is widely understood that they believe that birth control interferes with God’s plan of procreation.  To some it is considered murder to interfere with the potential life that could be generated by a sexual act.  According to Wikipedia, “The Catechism of the Catholic Church specifies that all sex acts must be both unitive and procreative.”  This order precludes any form of sex act that does not lead to the joining of an ovum to sperm.

With the federal government issuing an order requiring Catholic institutions that provide insurance to their employees to include contraception, they have thrown down the gauntlet.  There is a small matter of religious freedom that is a material part of the First Amendment of our Constitution.  So how is it that they are able to circumvent that clear order to do no harm where our religious institutions are concerned?  I may be wrong but I believe this is their reasoning...

Catholic Church hospitals and universities, as well as those run by others with religious affiliations, don’t only hire employees of their faith but those of varying faiths as well as those of no faith.  Although the 1^st Amendment prohibits the making of any law impeding the free exercise of religion, it  also includes any law that requires the establishment of a religion.  It has been interpreted that the 1^st Amendment establishes that a US citizen has freedom of and from religion.  The portion of the clause with respect to barring the establishment of a religion, however, speaks to the government favoring any particular religion, not giving those who have no religion any freedoms in that respect. 

How does that apply, then, to this matter in particular?  Well, if a person who is employed by a Catholic Church Hospital or University is precluded from acquiring contraception under their employer-sponsored healthcare plan, and within their own religious beliefs they are capable of utilizing such contraception, then the Catholic Church is infringing upon their religious rights.  Not buying it?  Well, let’s put it another way.

Under the healthcare bill that was passed by the Obama Administration, and is currently being incrementally instituted, all employer-sponsored healthcare plans must include free contraception and women’s healthcare.  When a church becomes an employer and, as part of their employee benefits, elects to provide healthcare to their employees they are required to follow current federal and local healthcare laws.  Is it legal?  Yes.  Is it moral?  Hmmm, hard to say.

Regardless of my opinion on their beliefs with respect to contraception, I find it difficult to get beyond the idea of forcing them to provide a service they consider to be equivalent to murder.  Yes, women do deserve to have their healthcare needs met.  We deserve to have trust in our doctor that he will do what is best, including providing contraception we may need under any type of circumstance. 

Additionally, there are some in our society whose lives would be jeopardized by pregnancy.  These women should avoid such a situation if they want to continue to survive.  To deny contraception to those segments of our population is, in fact, playing God as you are forcing that woman to choose between her life and remaining celibate.  I can tell you that celibacy does not go over too well in any marriage situation and is thus a difficult position to take.   

So, in my opinion, should there be a government mandate that all employers providing healthcare include free contraception?  Well, I can tell you that this is truly a hard one to fall on either side of the argument.  And yet, I note that Catholic Churches have the option of choosing to not provide benefits to any of their employees and elect to pay into a fund that provides tax breaks for those without employer sponsored health insurance.  If their religious beliefs overrule their good money-sense then there is an option that should satisfy everyone. 

Therefore, I say… yes.  It is a cautious vote in the affirmative, however, but it is, nonetheless, a vote in favor of requiring even the Catholic Church to provide free contraception to all or pay the government to assist women in providing their own health services that include such a provision.