Is the President's contraceptive mandate a precursor to cutting government aid t

1. 89

   ecogginsposted 12 years ago

   Is the President's contraceptive mandate a precursor to cutting government aid to religious groups?
   
   In the first week of February 2012, American President Barack Obama signed a government mandate that forced religious institutions that offer insurance to employees to include contraceptives in the insurance plan. The president's decision caused a major stir from the Catholic church, GOP political opponents, and members of his own Democratic party. I wonder if the President Obama floated a fight he knew he could not win in order to justify something else; that is, a move to cut all federal aid from religious institutions such as religious-backed colleges and universities?

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2. 90

   Rock_njposted 12 years ago

   I don't know, but I think the government aiding religious groups of any kind is in essence picking one religion over the other, and should not be done in the U.S.  Religious groups should raise their own money for their own purposes.
   
   Regarding the contraceptives issue.  I understand people's strong convictions against abortion, but being raised Catholic I never understood the opposition to contraceptives use within the Catholic Church doctrine, which 90% of Catholics do not adhere to according to polls I've seen.  It is really out of step with reality, and just seems extreme and silly to me.  It's actually one of the reasons I drifted away from the Catholic Church.  That and their silly ban on Priest marrying, which is totally counterproductive, and makes no sense in a religious context or otherwise.
   
   If 90% of Catholics don't follow the church's teachings and policies regarding contraceptives use, then why should the church force its views on its employees, many of whom are not even Catholic?  Besies, contraceptives use leads to far less abortions, so being against contraceptives use is in odds with another goal of the Catholic faith.

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3. 61

   Jay Sposted 12 years ago

   The mandate only says that religious groups cannot exclude birth control from their insurance coverage. It doesn't force anyone to use contraceptives. It is still a personal choice.

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4. 89

   ecogginsposted 12 years ago

   Still, the government is stepping in to dictate to the church what doctines and policies it can and cannot follow. This type of infringement on the church has rarely been seen in the history of the USA. One would have to think that Obama knew he would run into massive opposition on this policy change. Is he looking for a bigger fish to fry?

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5. 78

   stevesoposted 12 years ago

   I hope so. The government has no business in supporting any religious group. Remember "separation of church and state"?

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   TheManWithNoPantsposted 12 years ago

   Rather than trying to come up with something just to sound smart.  I'm just going to be truthful here.  It's just too good to be true.  This thing is so politically stupid that makes me suspicious.  Unless there is some evil genius that I can't see behind this, it looks to me lik he's working very hard to give this election to us.

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7. 71

   The Frog Princeposted 12 years ago

   I think if you're paying attention to his actions today you got the answer to your last question.
   
   The Frog

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