Catholics rally at Kansas statehouse against birth control mandate

[proud2BlibKansan]

TOPEKA -- Thousands of people rallied Friday at the Kansas statehouse with Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the state’s Roman Catholic bishops against a federal mandate for health insurance coverage of birth control, protesting it as an attack on religious freedom.

The event was part of a nationwide “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign organized by Catholic bishops nationwide in opposition to the policy announced in January by President Barack Obama.

Speakers urged the crowd to keep protesting the mandate and remain active politically.

Obama’s administration sees the policy as an attempt to ensure that women have access to contraceptives, but the Catholic bishops and other social conservatives said it would force employers to provide the coverage even if they’re affiliated with churches opposing birth control for moral reasons.


Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/29/3683937/catholic-bishops-rally-draws-huge.html#storylink=cpy

[RKP5637]

1. The biggest excuse in America, anymore, it's an attack on my

religious freedom. What about the freedom of others? Damn I'm tired of religious people.

One of the reasons I've grown to really dislike religion wherein for years I was just neutral... Now I find religion, much of it, obnoxious.

[pnwmom]

9. OTOH: "Nuns celebrate Affordable Care Act victory"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/our-battles-on-capitol-hill-will-continue/2012/06/28/gJQAGrur9V_blog.html

By Sister Simone Campbell

We at NETWORK are thrilled by the Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act. Since the day we were founded by Catholic sisters 40 years ago, we have lobbied for access to affordable, quality healthcare. Catholic teachings about the common good and dignity of each person instruct us that this is a basic human right.

Because health-care access is an integral part of NETWORK’s mission, some may find it ironic that I was out in the country traveling on the “Nuns on the Bus” tour when the Supreme Court announced its decision in Washington.

Actually, I was in exactly the right place. Traveling from state to state, community to community, I have met hundreds of people representing the millions directly touched by this lifesaving, historic law.

SNIP

I further reflected on the journey NETWORK had taken from our founding to today. Decades of lobbying members of Congress, testifying on the Hill, organizing our activists, and writing about health care had led to this historic day. Two years ago, I wrote the “nuns’ letter” that was signed by many leaders of U.S. Catholic sisters just prior to the historic vote in Congress. Many considered that one of the critical tipping points that led to the bill’s passing. We never questioned the law’s legality, and the Supreme Court proved us right.

SNIP

Our faith tells us that access to health-care safeguards human life. This law is pro-life and we must do everything possible to preserve and expand its reach.

[RKP5637]

11. Thanks!!! Makes me feel better!!!

[Dawson Leery]

2. Fundamentalist Catholics want to OUT LAW contraception and abortion in ALL CASES.

Google the terms: "Catholic Contraception." You will see page after page with links to websites and blogs of old world catholics who want to outlaw birth control and force all of us to live under theocratic edicts. These people are deranged.

[julian09]

3. Let the individuals decide if they want to use the coverage, no one is forcing them to use it.

I know that priests have their own form of birth control but that is no concern to the bishops. Not all who work in catholic institutions are catholic and 98% of catholics use some form of birth control in their lives. The church is forcing their employees and the fewer and fewer church attendees to leave the church. Let the faithful and unfaithful choose if they want a child now; can they risk a pregnancy due to health reasons or financial reasons. If the priests or bishops were allowed to marry, would they and their partners use protection? Is MANDATED celibacy a form of birth control? Stay out of peoples love lives and pants.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I was once employed by the Catholic church. I paid 90% of my health insurance premium.

And it covered contraceptives.

Go figure.

[pnwmom]

8. And 28 states already have laws that require contraception to be included in insurer plans

and the Bishops have never said a word about them till now.

[treestar]

14. They are going to have to allow married clergy at some point

Already there are parishes without a resident pastor. They are just not getting young people into it.

It would be interesting to see if that affects the Church and makes it more liberal on the subject.

I don't even get where this stuff comes from. Is there some Bible verse? Don't know how they justify the stance against birth control. And I was raised Catholic.

[mmonk]

5. Why didn't they hold a "Fortnight for Freedom" in 2000?

In December 2000, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that companies that provided prescription drugs to their employees but didn't provide birth control were in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prevents discrimination on the basis of sex. That opinion, which the George W. Bush administration did nothing to alter or withdraw when it took office the next month, is still in effect today—and because it relies on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, it applies to all employers with 15 or more employees. Employers that don't offer prescription coverage or don't offer insurance at all are exempt, because they treat men and women equally—but under the EEOC's interpretation of the law, you can't offer other preventative care coverage without offering birth control coverage, too.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/02/controversial-obama-birth-control-rule-already-law

The Bishops have turned the Church into a political partisan organization.

That is all.

[Dawson Leery]

6. The Cardinals and Bishops are going to do

whatever they can to defeat Obama.

[pnwmom]

7. 98% of Catholics have used or are using birth control. So these people

are an unrepresentative but noisy minority.

[pstokely]

10. The 1%ers claim to speak for all

nt

[DirkGently]

17. Catholics are far better than the Vatican

They're generally better-educated and more liberal than American Protestants.

[treestar]

12. How do people care about this to the extent they go out to protest?

I have never understood it. If I don't want to use birth control, I don't. I really don't care what other women do. It's insanity. They are taking their time to protest other women getting to use birth control.

The idea it is an attack on their religious freedom is so twisted. Their freedom to control others, they mean.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. And in 100+ degree heat

Insanity is the only answer.

[DefenseLawyer]

15. If employers were told they could stop covering healthcare for Catholics

because God was already protecting them, would these same people cheer for the exercising of religious freedom? Is the Popemobile covered with bulletproof glass?

[coalition_unwilling]

16. Republicans and Catholics - taking us back to the glorious 1950s (before

SCOTUS decision in Griswold v. New Hampshire 1964 found a 'right of privacy' in the U.S. Constitution).

[demtenjeep]

18. they really make Kansas look bad

so glad when brownbeckistan is no longer gov!

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. My grandmother, who went to Mass every day of her life and my uncle, who was a priest,

and my cousin a nun - all are spinning in their graves over what the Catholic church has become. I weep for them.