Catholic Bishops Lose a Big Battle Over Contraception

[babylonsister]

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/03/catholic-bishops-lose-another-contraception-fight

Catholic Bishops Lose a Big Battle Over Contraception

—By Stephanie Mencimer
| Mon Mar. 26, 2012 10:16 AM PDT



For the past several months, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has been waging war on the Obama administration over reproductive health care, declaring it no less than a battle over religious freedom. But on Friday, a federal judge ruled against the bishops in a fight over whether the group could impose its views on contraception and abortion through its control of taxpayer dollars.

snip//

But on Friday, a federal judge in Massachusetts essentially validated the Obama administration's position, ruling in favor of the ACLU in the lawsuit over the contract. Even though the bishops no longer have the contract, they had joined with the ACLU in asking the judge to rule in the case to settle the constitutional issues. US District Judge Richard Stearns explained why the bishops were in the wrong. He wrote:

To insist that the government respect the separation of church and state is not to discriminate against religion; indeed, it promotes a respect for religion by refusing to single out any creed for official favor at the expense of all others....This case is about the limits of the government's ability to delegate to a religious institution the right to use taxpayer money to impose its beliefs on others (who may or may not share them).

snip//

ACLU senior staff attorney Brigitte Amiri said in a statement after Friday's ruling:

"The court is right to insist that organizations receiving government funding cannot use their religion as an excuse to discriminate and withhold crucial services from victims of human trafficking. The court's decision ensures that people who have been forced into horrific circumstances will have access to all necessary services - including reproductive health care - to rebuild their lives."

[chieftain]

1. K&R

[XanaDUer]

2. Amen nt

[orwell]

3. By being free of taxation...

yet still receiving the benefits provided by taxation (roads, military protection, courts, monetary system) Religions are being de facto subsidized by the tax paying entities in the society.

Therefore they can not refuse to obey legal mandates claiming that they are somehow outside the system of laws due to religious beliefs.

[freshwest]

5. Agreed. It increases their influence beyond what it should be.

[freshwest]

4. It's always about the money. Play the game by the rules or don't get paid. Good.