Hi Miska
Contraception is part of health care. Why is this so controversial? The New Testament is full of looking after the poor and unfortunate and having compassion. It is not a debate about the merits of contraception, health insurance or viagra. I think that the more churches stray into this area the less christian and the more perverse they seem. This is especially so as the hierarchy of the catholic church has cover up the horrific sexual crimes against children and adults by priests.

Hi Progressive Pat,
You state that no one regrets going through with a pregnancy. I grew up in an era where choices were limited and went to school with people who were told by their mothers that they had ruined their lives by being born. How horrific would that be?

I have a friend who is catholic and got married the first time as a baby was on the way. The marriage didn't last and he left behind 2 kids. He repartnered and said it is totally different situation when you decide to have kids and therefore are willing put yourself out for them. It makes the marital relationship totally different as well.

There is an infantile discussion around what being a mother is really like. People like PP assume it is all fluffiness and motherly love. In reality it is an extremely demanding and difficult but of course has its rewards. It should be a relationship willingly entered into.

Mishga I'll agree with you in the situations where the churches and religious organisations are not getting special treatment (tax and rates breaks or funding to subsidise their activities). Where churches choose to hit drink at the public funding trough then they should be subject to the consequences.

I've also got concerns about government programs. I'd prefer the government to butt out and leave individuals with more control over their own income and choices rather than tax then redistribute some of that.

Put some stuff in place to help genuine crisis situations and leave the rest of us to get on with our own lives.

R0bert

@ Lillian,

You don't understand the events that have transpired, the HHS are trying to tell churches what to do, i.e. supply contraception to staff, and thus, break their conscience. The church is not straying into this area at all, the bishops want to let staff make their own reproductive health decisions, as was the case until this decision.

Look up a chronology of events regards this, and all will be revealed.

Hi Progressive Pat,

Try watching this debate about the issue:
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/2/8/as_contraceptives_rule_enters_gop_race

As Jon O'Brien of Catholics for Choice says:

"It’s clear to me that what’s going on here really is that the bishops are looking to have their cake and eat it. They actually want to run hospitals and schools, very often taking taxpayer dollars to do that, but they want to be exempted from the same rules as everybody else. The idea that an employer could actually determine what you do in your personal life, if you use birth control or not, by virtue of blocking your access to insurance coverage is really outrageous and very un-American."

I do not think this is a matter of conscience as if the Bishops and others in the Catholic Church had any conscience they would not try and prevent women from looking after their health.

*An employer should not have to offer or pay for anything that goes against his conscience*

In that case the employer would be unable to pay wages, in case
employees bought something which is against his conscience.

Fact is family planning is part of healthcare and I don't see why
Catholic employers should be treated differently to other employers.
HMOs do deals with pharma companies, meaning much cheaper contraception
over all. That is a benefit to those who use it. Nobody is mandating
the compulsory use of contraception. Feel free to cross your legs
for Jesus, if you think that it will get you to heaven.

* I think contraception has more potential damage to a woman's health than the cost of having to purchase contraception herself*

Perhaps you need to let each woman make her own decision, because
frankly it is none of the employers business.

*No one regrets going through with the pregnancy because you get to look down at a smiling face.*

Once again, that is up to the individual to decide, not up to me or
you or religious dogma, which is for the religious and their free
choice. Fact is the abortion rate of Catholics is about the same
as the rest of the community, so I don't think that most practising
Catholics take Vatican bleatings about family planning, all too
seriously.