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February 10th, 2012
02:30 PM ET
My Take: Why I’m a Catholic for contraception
By Karalen L. Morthole, Special to CNN I have been a Catholic my whole life. Baptized as a baby and confirmed in the seventh grade, I attended weekly catechism classes and received a Jesuit education. Never once did the opinion of the church on a person's use of contraceptives surface. In high school, I was prescribed birth control to balance my hormones. I suffered from terrible mood swings that had negative effects on my relationship with my family and got me into trouble with teachers. I also experienced menstrual cramps so painful as to be debilitating; sometimes, they left me unable to move. My mother, a devout Catholic, had no problem with my taking birth control, because she recognized the dramatic effects this simple medication had on my life. Birth control gave me a new, healthy and balanced way to live. As a 22-year-old woman, I am able to think more rationally because of birth control. Teachers at the Jesuit high school I attended urged students to protect themselves when they became sexually active, to use condoms to stamp out the risk of contracting a viral sexually transmitted disease that would affect the rest of their lives. Some would criticize my teachers for that, but I thank them. My peers and I were taught by caring and realistic teachers with experience making decisions to promote their own health. Some had seen the horrors of sexually transmitted diseases. CNN's Belief Blog – all the faith angles to the day's top stories Birth control, condoms and emergency contraception have all served their purpose in my life, because each work in different preventative ways. Birth control has aided my mental health, giving me a clearer head; condoms have protected me from contracting diseases from sexual partners. Emergency contraceptives were there when I was uncertain about whether I’d become pregnant and needed reassurance. I’m not ready to raise a child on my own. Even though the official Catholic Church teaches against contraceptives, I do not feel immoral using them. They’ve allowed me to live my life without the fear of unwanted pregnancies or deadly diseases. My religion has played a large part of my life, laying the groundwork for my personal relationship with God. It has taught me how to respect others, be a human with integrity and help those in need. Catholicism is a beautiful religion that supports family values and tolerance of others and leads us to serve others, a teaching I’ve adapted into my everyday living. The Catholic Church does an exceptional job standing up for those who live in poverty and suffer injustices. But on contraception, the Catholic bishops have taken a stance that violates the basic rights that affect millions of Catholics across the country and shows a lack of concern for women's health. It is disheartening that the Catholic bishops were so opposed to the Obama administration's decision to require religious institutions like hospitals and colleges to provide their faculty, staff and students with access to reproductive health care, which includes birth control, emergency contraceptives and condoms. Even after the White House announced a revised policy Friday that exempts religious institutions from having to pay for the contraception coverage, at least one bishop voiced disgust. The U.S. bishops said in a statement Friday that it's "too soon to tell whether and how much improvement (there's been) on core concerns." The bishops have gone so far as to threaten to cease health care coverage to the faculty and staff at my college if it’s forced to comply with the Affordable Health Care Act. Even though the church will not support women's health needs and denies them opportunities to care for their physical and mental health, it does apparently condone other uses for condoms. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI endorsed the use of condoms for male prostitutes, saying condoms “can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility,” and could help “in the intention of reducing the risk of infection.” In my view, any sexual activity that spreads deadly diseases is sinful because it shows complete disregard for human health and human life. The Catholic Church believes that condoms negatively impact the sexual lives of men and women, preventing reproduction and the creation of life. I believe that condoms are, in fact, pro-life. They help women and men act responsibly in regards to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Condoms also prevent unintended pregnancies that could result in abortions, another issue that the Catholic Church has strong views about. As a Catholic, I stand with President Obama's decision to require religious institutions to provide access to contraceptives. I believe that birth control can be used by religious people without having a negative effect on someone’s faith. Catholics value human life. I believe that includes acknowledging the rights of women to take care of our bodies. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Karalen L. Morthole. |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor's Note: Karalen L. Morthole is a senior majoring in political science at Catholic University of America.
You cant call yourself a Catholic when you pick choose different parts that you want to believe in. You're either in or your out.
YOU don't make the rules. They can do whatever they want. The "church" is not the bishops.
Do you have an account of Christ handing authority to anyone else?
Catholics have been doing that for centries. Grow up and try to learn things, open your mind
Oh, please. The Christian faith has been making their own rules since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century. That's why there are 242 Catholic denominations and some 9,000 Protestant.
The words in the (one only) gospel (Matthew 6:18) were written in by those who wanted to establish a "church". Why didn't old St. Pete say "what's a church", when Jesus said that ? If the "church" was So important, why didn't ALL the gospels talk about it There was no such thing as a "church" at that time, and he would have no idea what he was talking about.
Lisa, I have been taking birth control pills for dysmenorrhea since I was 17. I was raised Catholic. This isn't about "choosing" which parts to follow–this is about using medication for a purpose. I was not taking it for the original purpose for which it was developed. I am tired of the church getting involved in the medical issues of people out of pure ignorance. There are plenty of Catholics who "choose" which commandments to follow with no recourse. Yet, you are making a judgement of those who are choosing medicine for treatment. What kind of Catholic are you–the blind follower with no intellect to make your own decisions or they hypocrite who is above all others?
I so agree with the other people commenting about . If you don't agree with the ways of the Catholic teaching, then you shouldn't attend Catholic services or claim to be Catholic. You can't pick and chose what parts of it you will follow or not follow. You are missing the point of God's plan for your life!!! If you pick and chose you are acting like you are God and you know better than God. With Christianity you are either for Him or againist him. You can't pick and chose!
Thank you for the correction, and true Pharmakopaiae is a Greek word. The point is still entirely correct I should have just said Greek rather than Latin.
aside from stepping on religious rights, ask yourself:
why did Obama/Siebelius choose contraceptives to be given away for free? why not diabetes or blood pressure medicine which has more universal and might I say LIFE SAVING need????, because contraception, and anything that addresses a women's "choice" are things that would win brownie point among the liberal democrats. It is so obvious. Americans, whether you are Democrat or Republican, you should take offense to this, that this administration thinks you are that dumb to believe this has to do with women's health....
Me
Because those treatments / drugs are already pretty much universally covered?
Glad you survived the Red Scare Mr. Chomsky.
I do believe that President Obama, he does hold the office, did it in purpose, but it was so the lunk heads running for president would take the bait. And boy did they. Once they catch on, the Catholic church will be backing the president, and they will be scratching their heads with George Bush pencils, trying to figure out "wha happened?"
How about this reason: He is addressing a community issue of too many babies born to people who cannot take care of them–or is it that you cannot see past the Party of No's rhetoric?
GREAT POINT!!!
Karalen,
You are a fallen-away catholic my friend. You need to attend Mass every Sunday, receive communion. BUT before that, I would recommend that you go and do a good confession...And please, learn more about your faith and the Holy Scriptures..God heals, my friend..Trust !
Lucho, you have no right to tell someone that her treatment is against a faith unless it defies the that faith's commandments. You obviously don't have a clue about reality–instead you let yourself be led around the nose by a cult. And yes, I am a recovering Catholic, so I know from where I speak.
Technocat...Recovering Catholic??? You mean you have decided to satisfy your own wants not God's. You have very little understanding of the Church's beliefs. The Church doesn't object to medication for true medical issues. The Church does object to the use of contraceptives for the purpose of preventing procreation. BTW...here is my source for my previous post: http://www.saintaquinas.com/christian_comparison.html. If you remember from reciting the Nicene Creed "We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
you have a choice here, no one is imposing it on you. You are Catholic, only if you believe what the Catholic church teaches, word for word. You cannot have your own version of Catholicism and call yourself a devout catholic; that is a convenient lie. Your mother's advise shows, how a bigger liar she is. It's all so typical of fallen away Catholics these days. So much for being devout. "Baloney". You and your mother do not have a clue as to what the church teaches and to say that you are catholic, goes to show how ignorant one can be and at the same time revel and take pride in their unfortunate ignorance. You and your mother should all become protestants, where you are allowed to define your own rules, or find something else, but just don't call yourselves Catholics if you can't agree to everything it teaches; that would be just fraudulent misrepresentation.
"You cannot have your own version of Catholicism and call yourself a devout catholic"
How devout are the 242 Catholic denominations? Or, for that matter, the 9,000 Protestant denominations? Seems to me that Christians have been making their own little versions of "the rules" for centuries.
To be devout can be considered practicing zealotry in any area of belief. Skepticism is the champion of intellect. Faith is often the champion of ignorance. I prefer to know reality instead of allow others to dictate it to me. This, and I was raised Catholic. Zealots need to realize that not everyone thinks the same. Did she break a commandment? No. The rest are just details that change every century. It is wise to cease in the practice of zealotry before you embarrass your brain.
TRH- Where did you get your stats? It is waayyyy off base.
I'd like to know that, too. And also, I'd like your resources for saying that it's way off base.
It's heartening to see Catholics reject the absolute authority of the Pope while still respecting the Church and pursuing their beliefs. That's the sort of courage I believe Jesus loved and supported.
Yes, because the Pope is far less trustworthy than pharmaceutical companies that have convinced otherwise healthy women that they need to be dependent upon their products for the whole of their reproductive life. Follow the money. The Church makes no profit off its stance on contraception. The same cannot be said of the corporations women have unreservedly placed their faith in.
If you reject the pope, you aren't Catholic. You can be a Christian, but not a Catholic. A Catholic accepts all of the Church's teachings and doctrine.
Please! More Catholics use birth control, so the rest of us don't have to suffer through your complaining every time there is something that might offend your religion. Go protest Sadusky! Or the Westboro Church!
Your religion has more money than god, so give out the pill, It will prevent ABORTIONS, you 15th century weirdos.
Actually, the Catholic Church is hurting for funds. Diocese rules are not dictating that many parishes should merge while others completely close for good. It is not a pretty sight.
I meant "are now dictating..." (This comment space is way too small–typos are far too easy to make.)
The truly sad part about this whole thing is the misunderstanding of the Catholic Church's actual teaching. To truly love as Christ loved means loving without reservation and with a prayerful consideration of what God is asking of us. As it relates to our reproductive powers this means, "Is this act a loving act as God would see it? Unfortunately, most of us feel that striving for this standard either isn't reasonable or worth the attempt. The reality is that the gift we receive when we try to live this way IS love the way God intended it. Is it any wonder that we struggle so much with this approach when we have trouble with simply denying ourselves the simplest things? It's all about self control and respecting the dignity of the other person during the most beautiful act a man and woman can engage in , not turning it into the most popular contact sport of our generation.
"The truly sad part about this whole thing is the misunderstanding of the Catholic Church's actual teaching. "
No, the truly sad part is that there are still billions of people who care what the Catholic church has to say about anything. i stil can't get past that. It's just utterly bizarre in the extreme.
Pope Paul VI and the "out of touch" Church predicted in 1969 that widespread use of contraception would lead to four things: 1) General lowering of moral standards, 2) A rise in infidelity, and illegitimacy 3) The reduction of women to objects used to satisfy men and 4) Government coercion in reproductive matters. Proponents of contraception, on the other hand, predicted in the late 60s that widespread contraceptive use would decrease divorce rates, increase marital satisfaction, lower unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
40 years later, who had a better grasp on reality? Insanity is doing the same thing yet expecting different results. Continued support for contraception is nothing short of insane.
You are talking to a generation that is an inch deep and a mile wide. Trying to penetrate their selfish fog with thoughts of selflessness and sacrifice is an exercise in futility. Don't you get it...it's all about them, not God.
So....you blame the last forty years of society sliding into a pit of immorality STRICTLY on the use of contraceptives? That seems to be a bit of a stretch in my view if not somewhat naive.
You mean all of the crimes and evils committed by "holy" men were not caused by women taking bc?!?
Tom, Mike and Annie, thank you. I am inspired reading these comments. So true people here almost forget what the beautiful gift from God is our human s3xuality, and how that beautiful gift becomes a oving act, shared by a married couple.
How is contraception "good health?" Is fertility and human life a disease? How is that position consistent with the teachings of Christ? Furthermore, the World Health Organization lists hormonal contraceptives as a Class 1 carcinogen, right up there with asbestos.
Medicine for thousands of years has had a two-fold function: 1) make dysfunctional parts of the body functional and 2) keep functional parts of the body functional. Contraceptives do NEITHER. It has never been considered ethical to manipulate and interfere with natural operations of the body unless it posed a threat to a person's health. Yet, for some reason, contraceptives continue to be the ONLY medicine that disregards thousands of years of medical ethics.
Karalen, as a Catholic, I STRONGLY urge to actually study the Church's teaching on the matter and not just base your opinion on what the media has presented it as. Theology of the Body for beginners by Christopher West is a great start. This is not an isolated issue but concerns the whole of our belief system.
Where does Christ say, "Thou shalt not use contraception"?
Where does Christ say it's loving to contaminate your body with synthetic hormones to prevent human life at all costs?
If I remember correctly, Christ was quite fond of human life and children.
good grief is about all I can muster
"good grief is about all I can muster" Which doesn't surprise me. I have yet to hear a convincing argument validating contraceptives as "good medicine."
Let's get this straight. It's the Pope, a fallible human being, who forbids contraception, not Christ.
Just wait a couple hundred more years, when your "natural" brain may figure out that a mindless continuation of the geometrical increase of the Earth's population may have been FAR more immoral than taking a pill.
So, Mike, it's the Catholic Church that decides what "good medicine" is? I'm still waiting for YOU to come up with a good argument.
As a woman, I think that a man should STFU when it comes to hormonal birth control. You will be allowed to have an opinion when you have a uterus.
I'm with Jessica.
I agree with Jessica –
Mike when you can spit out a baby – you can have a vote.
I'm tired of women blindly handing their money over to multi-billion dollar companies. Why are people so selective in the authorities they question? Sure, question the Church. But don't turn a blind eye to the people who are actually making a profit off of you.
I'm still waiting for someone to identify what "disease" contraceptives is intended to cure. Is human life a disease?
Oh, brother. And of course the Church has never profited off of us, right?
"I agree with Jessica –
Mike when you can spit out a baby – you can have a vote."
Tessa, are you going to listen to men who want to use you with out consequences or men who hold the dignity of women in highest esteem and are trying to defend them?
How does the Church profit off its contraceptive stance? How much revenue does that generate?
Execs living lavish lifestyles are making a
How does the Church profit off its contraceptive stance? How much revenue does that generate?
Pharmaceutical execs living lavish lifestyles are making a TON of money of women right now.
Meaning that men who respect women don't support birth control? Wrong.
"Meaning that men who respect women don't support birth control? Wrong."
Prove it.
Spoken like a true ignoramus. I'm assuming that you, Mike, are not a female. I was raised Catholic, yet I was diagnosed with debilitating dysmenorrhea at the age of 17. For this, I was prescribed birth control. Your sick mind would say that I was using the medication FOR birth control, but that was not so. I continue to take the medication to protect myself from the pain and agony I have faced far too many times. If you ever experienced this, you would change your tune, but quick. As it stands, you are ignorant to the pain and the treatment. Please don't ever have children, and if you do, I pray that none are girls. You would rather them suffer for your lack of knowledge.
"But don't turn a blind eye to the people who are actually making a profit off of you."
Oh, but Rick Santorum says we shouldn't question the profits that drug companies make....they help people.
Margaret Sanger would have a field day with you, sir.
Mike,
I believe that the original article gave a great example of how contraception is "good health". In fact, it was used to make
a dysfunctional part of the author's brain functional (i.e. hormonal imbalance). The effects of this therapy are laid bare by the author herself, she is a much more functional human being. As for your two "rules of medicine" I have to assume that you never take or give tylenol or ibuprofen to your children for fever or pain, as both of these are signs that the body is working as programmed (fever increases blood circulation to more quickly distribute antibodies, and pain to tell us "don't do that"). Any attempt to block fever or pain is stopping the body from performing its designed fuctions. In fact, by those rules, the only sort of acceptable medicine would be to fix trama (not treat it, just fix it).
To show that I am not biased I will say that the arguements set forth by Jessica, Tessa, et al pretty much amount to a strawman. I absolutely respect your decision to take the steps that you feel are necessary to protect yourself, but to think that "you're a boy and I'm a girl" is a valid arguement in any context is a little absurd.
Lastly, to those saying that you have to unquestionally submit to everything that the church says I have some admittedly antecdotal evidence to the contrary. The teachers at two different Catholic schools, as well as many years of Cathecism taught me that questioning your faith is a natural and desirable trait, since when your faith wins, it will have grown to be that much stronger.
Technocrat, I couldn't help but notice your pompous insulting and ignorant post to Mike. The church would support your medical hormone use as it allows it for other medical uses including endometriosis and hormone replacement therapy in the elderly. I find it strikingly ironic that you would play God and tell another human being whether to have kids. What a natural extension of your support of birth control. Here you feel humans can take it upon themselves to say who should have kids and here you are, deluded, conceited and playing God to tell Mike not to, by the way, my mom raised me to be highly respectful to women and I continue to strive for that every day. I hope you realize my adjectives are already tempered by the taught politeness. If you weren't a woman, I'd have even more to say to you. I find it outrageously insulting that you a woman would tell a man such an insult as to not have kids and specially not daughters. Talk about a sick mind. God bless you.
Ian, I happen to be a catholic MD and felt compelled to make some comments on this page. The church is not opposed to using hormones for medical use, such as in endometriosis. The indication makes all the difference. Just as any drug may be properly used for one indication, but another use would be not indicated or even contraindicated. In the case of the author Karalen, she has an illness, and the hormone use is for that illness. It wouldn't justify anyone else taking contraceptives to be promiscuous. It also wouldn't undermine Mike's point that when used for contraception, that is not a medical indication. Pregnancy is not a disease.
Chrism, recognized. I wasn't responding in general, I was specifically responding to Mike's post that there is no disease that birth control can cure (paraphrasing). Thank you for weighing in to make my argument stronger.
chrism, Mike wanted an answer, and he got one. He also got a lesson. I do not take kindly to ignorant people telling me what kinds of medication I can take for my treatment especially when they have proven to have a closed mind. I prefer to use my intellect to guide me through life. You, however, are happy to accept his ignorance. I spend my life's work combatting ignorance. Mike is not above any of us, yet his pompous behavior seems lost on him. Isn't pride one the Seven Deadly Sins? I do truly hope he never has any female children until he is intellectually fit to see to their needs. I am not making that decision for him–I am merely suggesting he educate himself or not put his future children's lives in danger. If you understood the nuances of language, you would have noticed that. Please do not tell God to bless me. I have my own personal relationship with God, and it is none of your business. Were you "anointed" specially in order to use the name "chrism" or do you think you're someone special all on your own?
P.S. My name is Technokat, but then again, you've already proved that your comprehension skills need work.
Great article. I wish more Catholic women wold speak out like this to show support for Obama's law, instead of letting the men do all the talking for them, the way it's been since the middle ages.
Yes, because I'm men had absolutely no part in convincing women to sterilize themselves so they could be used without consequence...
You'll find the men who opposed contraception also, by no coincidence, hold women in much higher esteem and respect. Careful who you trust.
Do you or Obama, or any other liberal, know more or better than God? Keep in mind that is the same thinking that got Satan kicked out of Heaven. Jesus and His Church teach us to Respect Life, and reject anything that destroys it. Artificial Birth Control is a chemically induced abortion, and therefore a sin. That is between the woman and her God, however, and no one or thing else. The Government should get out of the Abortion business and not involve itself in any way. Look at the billions it has cost since 1973. The Supreme Court should have rejected the writ and left it a State issue.
Followers of other religions hold women in the highest esteem also, but that is because they are objects of the marriage and hence "property" of the men. Holding something in esteem is akin to objectifying it. Is this what we want for our society?
I wonder why a big news agency like CNN can't find a Catholic that actually understands their faith. They pick an ignorant college student who is a cafeteria Catholic at best to give her simple minded views on a topic that she has no understanding of. The fact that she sides with Obama doesn't mean anything because she doesn't understand her Catholic faith and she doesn't follow her Catholic Faith according to the correct teaching. She is a cafeteria Catholic picking and choosing what feels good to her. This is CNN's blatant attempt to give media bias to the Obama administration making all of us Catholics out to be ridiculous people. Next time find a person that understands the Catholic teaching on contraception. The last line is ludicrous. Trust me , if we follow Catholic Teaching we will take far better care of our bodies than this lady.
I believe this young woman is a Catholic that understands the realities of life much better than your Pope or your Bishops.
She is dealing with life as it is instead of how someone says it should be.
I am curious to know if you support abolishing the death penalty ? Thou shalt not kill. Or are we talking cafeteria catholic here.
Because CNN is a Liberal Pulpit and a bastion of anti-Catholicism, which should be illegal. If they said similar things about Judaism or Islam they wouldn't get away with it.
Wow–such a victim are you. "Big bad CNN" is allowing for another side of the issue to be heard, but you automatically think that it's an affront to you and Catholicism. Your ignorance is noted, and it's people who say what you say that make a bad name for the Catholic Church. I was raised Catholic and have been taking birth control pills since age 17 for dysmenorrhea. Look it up and then tell me that I have no right to take the pills. You would rather I suffer instead of get treatment because the pill has other uses. What a great example you are setting! Suffer for your faith. I was raised with the understanding that the Catholic Church is a compassionate church–you obviously have issues clearly stemming from fire and brimstone. Your comments show the deep ignorance of the general Catholic populace–or at least those with the biggest mouths. Educate yourself before you spout again, please.
"making all of us Catholics out to be ridiculous people."
Many of the responses on this forum seem to be doing a fine job of that. You folks have not been made to look "ludicrous" by the Obama administration or CNN....you do this from your own utterances.
Well said, TRH. It's amazing how so many comments are NOT making a strong case for anyone to be a Catholic and not practice ignorance, hate, and bias against people.
The wholepoint that Karalen is making is absurd.She is not Catholic. A Catholic is a Christian who commits their life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and lives in victory over sin. Here is someone who has seemingly lives a life of adultery,abortion, contraception and lives under the illusion that because she respects others,be good to others etc, she is Christian.Even atheist are respectful to others and help them. The Catholc Church requires a life of repentance from sin and turning to the gospel of the saving work of Jesus – His cross and ressurection – which frees us from slavery to sin and gives us the power to live victorious over the values of this world and in freedom from slavery to sin. Anyone who commits serious sin like Karalaen has cut herself from God's grace – she does not seem to have a sense of sin over how she lives. How does she call herself Catholic? A Catholic lives in obedience to scritpure and the teaching of the Church that Jesus founded.
Dude, you are seriously drunk on the Kool-Aid.
Have you ever done any REAL research on Christianity . . . not exclusively the church sanctioned stuff . . .
A Catholic recieves the Grace and Forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Your teachings also warn you against making judgements against your fellow man. So, until you can support her as a Christian it seems you may need a few trips to the altar too.
KeithTexas...repentance is an integral part of forgiveness and grace. Read the Bible.
Annie, you would be hard-pressed to find a bible for the congregants in a Catholic Church. Catholics read missalettes which contain excerpts of the bible but often are paraphrased. There aren't any bibles in the pews, but if the Bible said something, it MUST BE TRUE.
Wow planned parenthood is using that money they got to good use in buying ad time all over CNN aren't they? Every day there's a new lead abortion/ birth control headline story.
The Catholic Church's position on artificial birth control has NO basis in the teachings of Christ.....it was not an issue then....the teaching is solely based on the opinion of the men running the church who claim 'divine inspiration'....BULL....they wanted people to have more kids so they could contribute more money to the church so that the so-called 'princes of the church' could maintain their princely life-style.
Yes, a policy invented by gay men.
You could not be any more wrong. Please read Theology of the Body and educate yourself. It's ALL based on Scripture and the teachings of Christ.
But, again, this argument isn't really about understanding the Church's teaching anyway, is it?
Mike, if it all came from Christ, why are there Old Testament readings in the mass? You don't get very far with intellectuals when speaking in absolutes. You WILL be questioned for validity.
Imagine what this world would be like if we took all the energy we put into following our respective mystical gods and worked together for the greater good of this planet.
Agreed.
Go to your Planned Parenthood and get it....Enough of this CNN led Socialist agenda.
Biased much? Or do you fail to see the hypocrisy in your statement out of pure ignorance?
Alright, so of the people who are saying it is OK for the government to force a church to act against its moral beliefs, start asking yourself this question. If the government can FORCE the Catholic Church to act contrary to their beliefs where does it stop?
The short answer is it doesn't. If this is left to stand, then the government can also FORCE religious schools to no longer teach creationism, government can FORCE religious hospitals to perform abortion on demand, government can FORCE a Catholic DIOCESE (a diocese is separate from a church) to recognize gay marriage, government can FORCE prayer at secular public schools (opining it is best for the majority of the students), the government can FORCE...
This is about religious liberty people, not "Contraceptives: pro or con?"
Your slippery slope is showing.
In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive cars, in the U.S., they are not allowed to use birth control. Is this religious liberty?
Actually there might come a time IF/WHEN some religious teachings become a threat to everyone else's freedom and wellbeing, there would be some sort of intervention by the governing body.
The church acts against its moral beliefs every time it covers up for a child rapist. Which it has done tens of thousands of times.
Or do you think justice for those victims another example of government overreach?
Seriously Mike? Shall I bring up the phrase "Separation of Church & State?" Just because the Church, ANY church, chooses to work in the secular world (& that's ALL this law affects....) with Universities & Hospitals (laudable of them) AND takes Government grant money, they should be exempt from our laws? Women who work for them don't have the same rights & access to health care? Explain to me how this is against their teachings? Where did Christ say "every sperm is sacred?" This is the BISHOPS pushing their OWN personal agenda (NOT Gods) onto anyone they can; be they Catholic or NOT. (They already think anyone who is NOT Catholic is going to Hell, so I really don't see why they should care if they use contraceptives or not......ah well, maybe it's just me.....)
Think about it this way; We "interfered" with the Morman's teachings that polygamy was "God's way" too. Our laws, as an inclusive secular society; not sanctioning any one religion over another, took precedence in making polygamy unlawful even though their religion said otherwise. SO why should we help the Bishops further their own personal agenda over any OTHER religion? In OUR society, one is supposed to be equal under the law. So if it's legal for OTHER employers to be required to provide contraceptives (and by the way, I'll bet VIAGRA is covered!) then why not the church? They choose to participate in our secular society. Now maybe if they took the Amish position & were a SEPARATE society...then we'd keep out of it.....
No one is forcing the church to do anything. It's the handling of employees' rights that are in question here. The church can do whatever the church wants...with its congregants. If church-run BUSINESSES want to interfere in the private lives of its employees, it should only hire its followers and cease to be businesses or at least public ones. This is a non-argument by some members of the Catholic Church. Stop making it into something it is not.
Insurance companies have rejected paying for mammograms, pre-natal care, immunizations..you name it. If it has to do with paying, they are against it. They are incapable of doing the right thing and only through forced legislation have come to pay for basic services.
The CEO of United Health Care, Stephen Hemsley, received $102 million in total compensation for 2009. The insurance companies need regulation.
You are right, The insurance companies are not above using idiots to further their own aganda.
Seems to me that no one forces anyone to be Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, etc. So why pretend to be Catholic if you don't like what the church teaches? I can call myself the President of the United States, but it doesn't mean that I am the President.
It's called "Catholic according to me"!
It's called "only Catholic" if you agree with the bishops.
I agree, it would be like joining the KKK if you liked and respected black/jewish people etc..why bother joining an organization if you don't believe in it.
@Flinders, the butler: What does your comment mean? Thanks.
OH, for you who call Karalen a "pick and choose" Catholic, or for those of you who call her a hypocrite, or for those of you who say she isn't a true Catholic – I say to you – you are all sinning in the eyes of Jesus because you have cast that first stone and you are all being hypocrites and not following the TRUE ways of Jesus and the bible. Have you not heard of humility and kindness and LOVE for your fellow man? Is that not the true teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church? All of the other stuff is man made not Jesus made. You all need to pray for forgiveness for your own self-righteousness. Start being a Catholic for the love of God and the love for your fellow man.
Prayer takes people away from actually working on real solutions to their problems.
Prayer makes you kneel to sicko guys who wear expensive dresses and abuse kids.
Catholics are very stupid.
Prayer wears out your clothes prematurely.
Prayer contributes to global warming through excess CO2 emissions.
Prayer fucks up your knees and your neck and your back.
Prayer can cause heart attacks, especially among the elderly.
Prayer reveals how stupid you are to the world.
Prayer exposes your backside to pervert priests.
Prayer makes you think doilies are exciting.
Prayer makes your kids avoid spending time with you.
Prayer prevents you from getting badly needed exercise.
Prayer makes you frothy like Rick Santorum. Just google him to find out.
Prayer dulls your senses and prevents you from thinking.
Prayer makes you even more fat than you already were.
Prayer makes you post really stupid shit.
Prayer makes you hoard cats.
Prayer makes you smell like shitty kitty litter and leads you on to harder drugs.
Prayer wastes time.
Yikes...That is one of the lamest arguments. Even Jesus admonished those who were doing things to satisfy their wants instead of God's. Ms. Morthole is trying to justify her continued sinning with very weak arguments on how sinning makes her feel good about herself. She is indeed trying to pick and choose (cafeteria style) those things that are easy for her to follow while disregarding the ones that goes against HER desires. We are all sinners...however if she is really true to her faith she will try to change. Even Jesus told the adulterous to "Go, and now sin no more."