LTTE: NYTimes April 12, 2005

[TayTay]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/opinion/l12kerry.html

Recently, we introduced the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, which clarifies current law to say a person's religious beliefs should be recognized and accommodated in the workplace as long as this does not adversely affect the employer's business or customers.

The bill is supported by a diverse coalition of more than 45 religious and civil rights groups as well as a bipartisan group of senators and representatives.

If the bill becomes law, a pharmacist who does not wish to dispense certain medications would not have to do so long as another pharmacist is on duty and would dispense the medications.

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act provides a sensible solution to the potential conflict between an employee's religious conviction and the needs of pharmacy customers.
SIGNED:
(Senator) Rick Santorum
(Senator) John Kerry Washington, April 7, 2005
The writers are, respectively, Republican of Pennsylvania and Democrat of Massachusetts.

[whometense]

1. Have to admit,

supine Kerry-worshipper that I am, seeing his name listed next to - ACK - that other one - gives me pause.

Seems harmless enough, but I have to admit that all the religion talk these days honestly gives me the willies.

[JI7]

2. to be sure

Kerry did sponser this starting in the 90's at least and has tried other times with Santorum or some other Senator.

i think a big reason has to do with Wiccans and other minority religions in Massachusettes and discrimination against them. and just helping them in areas where Christians already are helped such as federal holidays which are usually on special days for Christians. but the others usually have to work on their holidays. so this bill would partly help deal with that by allowing them some time off for some of their days also.

i did have problems with this and still somewhat do. but i know the intentions are good. i'm just someone who leans more towards the french system but i understand this isn't france and most americans would object to some of the things they do . so we have to work from there and try to come up with ways that don't violate the separation of church and state while also making sure people aren't discriminated against.

[whometense]

3. Sure,

I can appreciate the sentiments behind it.

My unease really has nothing to do with this particular bill. It's more a general feeling about all the god-talk in the governemnt arena.

[karynnj]

4. I'm also concerned with the level of God talk

but I have no problem with this one in that it seems more in keeping with the separation of church and state and the respect for minority rights. I think that Kerry may essentially be using Santorum on this. The majority rarely needs to be protected, but I know there is a fear in some Christian communities that they are persecuted. So, Kerry, via Santorum, may be using this fear to get some religious rights for people in the minority.

My concern with their example is what if their is only one pharmacist or two (or n) devout Christians who don't want to sell the same medication. However, without this bill, some pharmacies already have made news refusing to sell contraceptives as a matter of policy. So, I'm not sure this will be worse.

[kerrygoddess]

5. Related Action Alert on LUTD

Related action alert here - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=706

Dr Ron also posted some good commentary on this - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=704

I posted it in GDP too - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1719668