How Republicans Are Trying to Force You to Pay for Others' Religious Beliefs

[Brewman_Jax]

http://www.alternet.org/news/154431/how_...s_beliefs/

From the article:

Quote:Last week, the Blunt-Rubio Amendment, which would have allowed any employer to refuse to cover any medical goods or services he or she found “morally objectionable,” went down to a narrow defeat, but Republicans aren't giving up on the issue. They appear to be intent on using the power of government to force the vast majority of Americans who have no problem with birth control to pay for a small minority's personal beliefs through higher insurance premiums.

I should make one thing clear: religious liberty is bedrock principle, and people whose faith leads them to oppose the use of birth control have that right. But that's not the issue – nobody is being forced to use contraception contrary to their beliefs, and the “accommodation” the Obama administration came to with the Catholic bishops means that religious institutions don't need to get involved.

In fact, many states have long mandated that prescription drug plans cover contraceptives, and the issue of “religious liberty” was never even raised until it became a partisan talking-point. Mitt Romney didn't carve out an exception for employers that are affiliated with a church in Massachussetts, nor did Mike Huckabee when he was the governor of Arkansas.

In New Hampshire, Republican lawmakers are trying to do away with just such a requirement. The law has been in effect for 12 years, since it was passed by a Republican legislature. As NPR noted, “nobody at the time, it seems, saw the policy as a blow against religious liberty.” State Rep. Terie Norelli, who co-sponsored the law in 2000, told NPR, "There was no discussion whatsoever — I even went back and looked at the history from the bill. There was not one comment about religious freedoms." According to the report, “It wasn't just lawmakers who were silent; religious leaders were, too.”

...

The hypocritical march for a theocracy continues. They scream bloody murder over the unlikely (and illegal) use of sharia in local areas with significant Muslim populations, but they are pushing for this and allowing pharmacists to let their religious beliefs trump their professional and legal responsibilities--and they have nothing to say about hard-dick pills. All of this from the same political party that wants gov't out of your business and out of your pocket. Looks like they didn't say which "you" they were talking about.

Can you smell the irony?

[NJMaverick]

is you are free to worship their God, you are free to only follow their religious views and beliefs and you are free to pay for their worship expenses. The last one is part of the damn conservative entitlement mentality.

[jaxx]

Religious hypocrisy promoted by the GOP. And the people who vote for them.....they will be the first to scream no rights.

[PoliticalTiger]

The American right makes the Taliban look like a bunch of mischievous school boys. They are the biggest danger this country faces.

[SeattleGirl]

(03-08-2012 05:46 PM)PoliticalTiger Wrote:  The American right makes the Taliban look like a bunch of mischievous school boys. They are the biggest danger this country faces.

I couldn't agree more, PT.