THE ULTIMATE CHOICE
There has been a lot of concern over the continued violation of First Amendment Rights which started with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This doesn’t just affect Catholics but all Christians and anyone who does not believe in birth control, sterilization, or the use of abortifacients. The recent decision by our government to force religious institution employers (universities, hospitals, and charities) to provide free birth control coverage through employer funded health insurance certainly created a huge dilemma. Should Christians obey God’s Law or Man’s Law?
After a huge public outcry over being forced to violate religious beliefs, the Obama administration attempted to correct their position. The most recent adjustment to the federal health care law allows these same religious institutions to again become exempt from providing free contraceptives due to religious convictions. But there is a catch; women must still be able to receive free contraceptives, sterilization, and abortifacients. What changed exactly?
It didn’t make sense when I first heard about it. Now with an explanation given, it is exactly what everyone thought. While faith based institutions are exempt, their insurance plans must make birth control services available privately. In other words, women will contact their insurance provider directly for free contraceptives, including abortifacients.
In the meantime, employers in non-religious institutions are still mandated to provide these “preventive services” via company insurance plans. For a number of years, laws in some states have required insurance coverage to include birth control, but not necessarily sterilization or abortifacients. No one was allowed to opt out of certain services. Many, who wished to have insurance coverage, suffered the attack on religious faith. Some faith based institutions complied without a quibble.
The problem with compromise is a loss of credibility. A small compromise always leads to a much bigger compromise later on.
Real change is needed here. This latest rule expands the types of preventive services insurance companies are required to provide. For those who do not want to participate in insurance plans that provide these types of services, there has been no recourse. Thankfully there are some Congressmen who have a plan. They are working to ensure people, i.e. employers, health care providers, and individuals can exercise their conscience. The bills are currently in Committees for review. I encourage you to read and support these bills. You can track the progress of all bills at: GovTrack and The Library of Congress Thomas.
The most current bill was introduced January 30, 2012, by Sen. Rubio. Bill #2043 is called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and is an amendment to the Public Health Service Act. This is a must read because it provides some background about what’s going on.
Rep. Fortenberry’s Bill #1179:
Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011
Senate bill #1467 sponsored by Sen. Blunt:
Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011
If I were an employer I would not want to provide these kinds of extras for my employees. Health care is something all of us need. Contraceptives and preventive services do not fall into this category. Abstinence solves the problem completely.
I’ve tried to reason this through… Why isn’t the individual responsible to pay for her own choices? Why does the world have to be a part of the decision to use birth control? It’s not a health issue, so why the fuss? It’s a profitable business.
As a Christian I have strong views over doing what pleases my Lord, and to be a participant in providing drugs that induce abortion is not acceptable.
Another point to consider… Why is the federal government giving orders to private insurance companies? These are not government owned. Forcing private companies to provide free health care is ludicrous. The private individual who owns insurance as a policy holder or a stock holder is still paying the bill.
There is also the matter of violating our United States Constitution. Freedom to exercise our religion is imperative. The first amendment reads:
*Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
To tell you the truth, I never thought our nation would come to the point where religious views are so callously dismissed. Who should be obeyed God or federal law? In this case, God's Law and the United States Constitution are being violated.
What kind of legislation forces people to choose between God and the Law? The God I am referring to here is the Lord God Jehovah, Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the Bible.
Abortion rights, rights to contraception, aka reproductive rights belong to the individual, because it is a God-given right to obey or disobey God’s Law. When I talk about “choice” that’s the only choice there is. The concept of right and wrong is engraved on our hearts, so we are without excuse. We don’t have to debate the semantics. Forcing others to participate is unconscionable. This is why we must have conscience laws.
Thankfully when we make the wrong choice, the Lord God Jehovah is quick to forgive and restore the repentant one. He knows us so well. Remember He loved us before we loved Him. How it must grieve and anger Him to know we place so little value on life, particularly the life of the unborn. The unborn child isn't just something to throw away. We need to change our thinking.
The ultimate choice must always be to obey God’s Law first.
*Bill of Rights is found at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Copyright © 2012 by Linda Hull
