The Contraception Controversy

It feels like the 1920s. It’s incredible that we’re arguing about contraception in the 21st Century, but we are.

The big issue is whether institutions associated with a religion, such as universities and hospitals, must provide access to contraception as part of their health plans. The administration says yes, the Catholic Church says no because it views contraception as immoral.

Let’s put aside the fact that the Church’s position, with the world's population now exceeding 7 billion people, is idiotic, it is what it is. Does the Federal Government have the right to dictate to an employer what health benefits it must provide?

Well, starting with work place safety, minimum wage, overtime rules, vacations and other work related issues, it already regulates just about everything else. So why not regulate health care coverage?

It’s the old First Amendment getting in the way again isn’t it?

Church’s themselves would be exempt. So if you worked directly for the Catholic Church you would have no access to contraception in your health care plan. However if you worked for Notre Dame University, then you would have access.

If you exempt institutions associated with the Church, then what about businesses owned by Catholics? Why not exempt them as well? You have to draw the line someplace and I think the administration is drawing it in precisely the right place.

The Catholic Church really needs to pull itself out of the 16th Century.