Contraception Mandate Doesn't Protect Religious Liberty

The First Amendment exists to shield believers and their institutions from exactly this kind of brute force

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF... I find it incredible that "scholars at Columbia Law School" refuse to see how un-constitutional this mandate is.

MARY OMALLEY of OH 3:25AM February 11, 2012

Catholic hospitals and universities abide by the law that does not allow them to discriminate in hiring. Their tax exemption depends on following this law.

Therefore they hire known non-catholic workers. That's fine.

Their catholic workers, the ones who happen to agree that using birth control is a sin are NOT forced to use it.

However, since these hospitals and universities hire people who are not catholic - and I suggest the vast majority of their staff are not catholic, and also many catholic women who follow their conscience and do use birth control, they should abide by the non discrimination law when providing health care.

What gives the catholic hierarchy, a bunch of celibate men the right to put their conscience over the women who legitimately think birth control is the better alternative to abortion?

I think these men think like a corporation - the catholic institution is a person too.

Marilyn LaCourt of WI 6:08PM February 09, 2012

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