Catholic Bishops Are out of Touch

By Barbara Kelly
Savannah Morning News
February 15, 2012

http://savannahnow.com/bluffton-opinion/2012-02-15/catholic-bishops-are-out-touch

There is a big hubbub lately about religious freedom and birth control. As with many other issues of the day, this has been overblown and used for political purposes. Thanks to the Catholic bishops, a group of men whose following has not believed their stance on birth control for many years. More than 90 percent of American Catholic families admit to using birth control. The families of five to 10 children are gone, replaced by smaller families. No one believes anymore that sex is only for procreation. Except the Catholic church. After their record on sexual abuse you would think they would know when to take a back seat when it comes to matters of legality.

On Feb. 8, 23 major mainstream religious leaders released a statement supporting the Department of Health and Human Services requirement that contraception be provided in health policies for employees. Including Catholics for Choice, and many of the most prominent religions in the country.

This is not about religious freedom, as some are proclaiming. It does not interfere with the "free exercise of religion" of the First Amendment. It does not force anyone to disregard their religious beliefs, or to use contraception if they do not want to do so. It is really about what benefits employers provide to employees. Employers, whether religious or not, must follow laws. A church institution, such as a hospital or a university, also needs to follow laws, such as workplace safety, unemployment insurance, etc.

Those on the "religious freedom" bandwagon forget to mention a few important things. First of all, 28 states already require this type of coverage. DePaul University, a large catholic university, already offers contraception coverage for employees. Some other Catholic universities do as well.

The definition of a religious organization is one that meets the following criteria.

1) The inculcation of religious values is the purpose of the organization,

2) The organization primarily employs persons who share these religious beliefs,

3) The organization serves primarily persons who share these religious tenets,

4) The organization is nonprofit.

Under this definition, hospitals and universities don't fit. The purpose of a hospital is not to inculcate religious values — it is to provide health care. The purpose of a university is to educate. Both hospitals and universities serve people of various religions, or those of no religion. Both of these organizations also employ people of various religions.

So a closer look at this current issue is that there really isn't an issue at all. If all these employees are provided coverage for contraception nothing really changes. Religious freedom still exists. The First Amendment is not violated. The only things that might change is that the Catholic bishops are listened to even less by their congregations. Especially the women. But women have never had a voice in the Catholic church. They have had to rely on their own conscience to decide what path to follow. And most have decided to use birth control. It is a choice, and the ultimate freedom, to be able to control one's own body.

But anyone who wants to have 10 children is free to do so. And anyone who wants to have no children is also free to do that. It's all about freedom of choice.

Contact: bkellyshaw.kelly@gmail.com