Court: Mandated Birth Control Coverage Doesn't Violate Religious Rights

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An appeals court has ruled that the birth control coverage required by federal health care reforms does not violate the rights of several religious groups because they can seek reasonable accommodations.

Two western Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses and a private Christian college had challenged the birth control coverage mandates and won lower-court decisions. However, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court ruling Wednesday said the reforms place "no substantial burden" on the religious groups and therefore don't violate their First Amendment rights.

All three groups — the college and the Pittsburgh and Erie dioceses — are mulling whether to appeal to the entire 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Such a ruling should cause deep concern for anyone who cares about any First Amendment rights, especially the right to teach and practice a religious faith," Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik said in a statement. "This decision says that the church is no longer free to practice what we preach."

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/court-mandated-birth-control-religion

[uppityperson]

1. Good and no. It doesn't force anyone into practicing what they preach, only upon imposing on others

Though, to be fair, if imposing on others IS what you preach, well, tough shit.

[yeoman6987]

6. It's going to Supreme Court

They won't be providing long unfortunately. At least people will no not to work for the agency when they are looking for a job. Still sucks!

[BeanMusical]

8. Well said.

[BrotherIvan]

2. I thought the Hobby Lobby decision

Meant all woman-hating religious and otherwise could deny women reproductive care. I mean, that Bishop is going to go to hell if you don't have a million kids, so you better stop using that birth control. The planet obviously needs loads more people. Stop persecuting them and why do you hate Catholics?

[LibDemAlways]

3. There is no mandate that anyone has to

use birth control. The Obama administration has already bent over backwards to try to accommodate these groups who apparently don't think their employees should have first amendment freedoms to live their private lives without employer interference. Enough already.

[progressoid]

4. 'Practice what we preach'

Ha! Since when has that hypocrisy been a problem for them.

[onecaliberal]

5. This ruling in no way impedes on the church's ability to practice what it preaches.

It does however, keep them from controlling women.

[hue]

9. Well said! Catholic bishops & other religious leaders believe their mysogyny is endorsed by God.

[PatrynXX]

7. well sometimes free speech borders on anarchy

and we can't have anarchy

[murielm99]

10. I read the article.

I am not seeing how this ruling and the Hobby Lobby decision relate to each other. The article seems to bring up a lot of convoluted issues. Affiliated groups don't have to provide coverage? Filling out a form is the same as enabling birth control, which they conflate with abortion?

How does this relate to Hobby Lobby? Does anyone here understand what these nut cases are yammering about this time?

[blkmusclmachine]

11. Hobby Lobby, Part 2

[Dont call me Shirley]

12. To Catholic Church: you are denying the rights of half this country, many who do not practice

your religion. So STOP already!