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1. Global warming claims all hot air, says speaker at OU2. OU student charged with raping 17-year-old3. Police chief: City can’t stop parties before they start4. For most, the journey to Nine Fest seemed worth it5. Is another oil and gas land-rush starting in Athens?6. Parties spun by OU alums have bootie-shakers raving7. High St. student renters take on big local landlord8. Tanning parlor fights to get back into uptown Athens storefront9. Oak and Mill fests mellow down easy10. City Council acts to ban ‘fracking’ in water supply area11. Landowners’ group renews leasing pitch12. Wal-Mart asks judge to grant store win in shoplifter’s lawsuit13. Electric blue skies, May warmth frame music fest14. OU and city officials urge better fest behavior15. Pills defeated relative when no other drugs could do it16. David Alan Jones17. Hall of Fame baseball coach calls it a day at OU18. Local developers hoping to revive struggling hotel19. Festering fests; down, down deep; and the Golden Rule20. Nine Festers enjoy the sun and music, without the mud
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Home / Articles / Editorial / Letters / Don’t mix up religious disputes with practical health-care insurance issue
Sunday, February 19,2012
Don’t mix up religious disputes with practical health-care insurance issue
To the Editor:
In response to Ms. Carol Costanzo's letter, regarding the recent birth control controversy and the Catholic Church:
The idea that anyone could be upset with the current proposed standards within the recent health care reform is absurd. Despite what you may have read or heard, exceptions have been made for religious institutions who feel that it is immoral to provide coverage for reproductive health. For those entities, the health insurance companies will be the ones footing the bill on all reproductive health care.
Additionally, there's a difference between being forced to utilize a specific service, such as a religious institution, and providing the option of utilizing the service to said entity's one-million-plus employees – many of whom may need these services, despite the church's stance.
Also, to the best of my knowledge, religion is supposed to be a personal matter. So why is it that we don't just trust that each employee will do what is right by God and provide the care for all others?
Finally, I want point out that (while this may not have occurred to you) the Catholic Church employs many individuals of other faiths, and some who are affiliated with no religion at all. How can you justify allowing the largest single religious denomination in the country to deny something as basic as reproductive health care to its employees? After all, it's not as if they can't afford it, even if they were forced to pay for the option.
To quote Jon Stewart, "You've confused the 'war on religion' with not always getting what you want."
David Curry
Nelsonville
Also in Letters:
Forest Service apparently on verge of allowing oil-gas leasesWhat good does Ohio University provide to Athens community?City just encourages drunk-fests by closing traffic, recognizing eventsLet’s hope that climate change denial evaporates into stupidityFor decency’s sake, Time Warner, bring back Columbus CBS!Mitt Romney and Palmer Fest celebrants have much in commonWhy is city discriminating against people who want to rent out homes?Health commissioner is ignoring a lot of hard data that questions fluorideIf you’re disgusted by banking folly, you can express yourself locallyCity Council right to challenge state law on fracking regulation
I'VE HAD ENOUGH! In this Holy War on Religion, of Religion, and by Religion - I SURRENDER! ‘Cause I’m a lover, not a fighter. Instead...I’m gonna start my OWN religion, and get in on the good stuff: tax exemptions, and lots of taxpayer money to do what I want, in the name of religious liberty. AWESOME!
Hey NEWT -wanna join? We’re gonna have open marriages and multiple wives and all SORTS of neat stuff that you’re just gonna love! But don’t you worry Newt: we’ll have no - I repeat - NO nasty stoning of adulterers in OUR religion. None of that stuff. I Promise! As for SANTORUM, he just LOVES to tell other people how they should live. He’ll make us a REAL fine preacher-man. In fact, if he joins we’ll make him Saint Santorum....AND fix his Google search results! As for Mr. Obama, it’s obvious that we’ll need to (severely) demonize him, even further than now! Last but not least: MITT and RON. Hmmm... Hey, I know. Just for you two guys and the rest of the 1%: we’ll insist on NO TAXES AT ALL for our members…AND human sacrifice of illegal aliens. Tear out their hearts! Televise it live! WHAT A COUNTRY! :-)
By the way, the fact that Mitt Romney’s DAD was born in Mexico is quite relevant here. The reason is that Mitt’s Mormon GRAND-dad LEFT the United States and went to Mexico in the 1880‘s because laws against polygamy were passed in the U.S.; And being a Mormon back then, Mitt’s grand-dad just wanted to keep his multiple wives. Hey, who wouldn’t? Therefore, IF we follow the “logic” of the people crying crocodile tears about a non-existent “war on religion”, THEN the U.S. should have allowed polygamy back then (and religious racial discrimination, and who knows what else) - just because a particular religion claimed it as their cherished belief. GIVE ME A BREAK! Or better yet... give me a TAX-break...for my new religion!
Seriously: The bottom line is that absolutely NO ONE is coming into our Churches or places of worship and telling believers what to believe.....or forcing them to use contraception. BUT If the Bishops (and other denominations) want to continue running businesses outside of their places of worship...businesses that employ millions of people of varying faiths -or no "faith" at all- THEN they must play by the same rules and rights that other workers live by and enjoy (especially if their businesses use our tax dollars, and skip paying taxes, in the process). This is not a “war on religion”. Never was. It’s a war BY some religions... on women and men who simply want to plan their families, to control their futures, to keep their jobs, and to have health insurance that allows them to do that. The churches (or the IRS) need to decide whether these are gonna be political organizations proclaiming partisan politics from the pulpit...or....tax-exempt places of WORSHIP. Not both.
p. s. I come from a religious background. I know that their are many good people out there in various faiths (AND outside of those faiths)...many good people searching for answers, searching for community, searching for a way....in this all-too-harsh world. There's only one thing I can say to you: think for yourself, be yourself, trust yourself. Don't just accept something because it comes from a "voice of authority". For ultimately YOU are responsible for your life, and how you try to live it. That’s why you have a conscience: to choose, not just to follow....