The Problems With the Catholic Church and Birth Control

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Bill, you are wrong about diabetes. I am a registered nurse with a BSN. I know what I am talking about, diabetes is most certainly a disease process. As you go on to explain, it can affect your eyes, heart kidneys etc. furthermore, I am not trying to be rude but some forms such as type 2 (not all) can be changed by, guess what, behavior modification! I am talking about diet and exercise. Back to having babies. Everyone does not want a baby every year and it would be just wrong and fiscally irresponsible to bring unwanted children into the world. I have children and I love them very much. Can't say I missed the love from children I prevented being born because they never existed.
Lastly, you again are wrong on stating having babies rarely affects women's health. Where are you getting this information? There are a lot of consequences and issues that can arrive from multiple pregnancies. Let's see, Pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, pelvic floor damage, surgical interventions and risks associated with c/sections, bladder dysfunction, placental abruptions, just to name a FEW. I work in obstetrics, I do know what I am talking about. Everyone doesn't just pop a baby out year after year and go on their merry little way. Now, I can, and have, gone outside of my plan to purchase birth control for myself and my daughters too. But why should I be exempt from the rest of the women who will have that right? That's like saying if your cathloic glutony is a sin and if you have type 2 diabetes, we won't pay for your medications, insulin and needles cause if you modified your diet you wouldn't need them. Crazy, huh?
It is unrealistic to tall me to work for a different organization. I have a good job, (which if you haven't heard, is difficult to come by these days) with good people, in a good organization. Birth control medication is a bonafide medical need, just the same as any other medication. Oh, and there is no preventative measure that is 100% effective other than abstinence. That doesn't work to well, we are all human.

Susan of IN 9:29AM February 11, 2012

PS _ Susan of IN
I looked up the cost for the pill. Planned Parenthood said it depends but from $ 150 to $ 600 a year. My needles alone cost me out of pocket more (most of cost) than $ 150 a year. Insulin is many times higher than the max for the pill. Many, many times more "out of pocket. Pill for women is FREE now. I don't cry over you having to pay for the pill if it continues.
Is a small price to pay to lose all that love of a child...

Bill Hedges of MO 3:30AM February 11, 2012

Susan of IN _
Having babies rarely affect health of women. Pills do not stop sexually transmitted diseases. Treatment for AIDS is VERY EXPENSIVE. There are “preventive measures ” 100 % effective. Not having sex until married as Catholic church preach. Woman can go outside her health plan and get the pill. Her choice to work there knowing what she was getting into.
buma’s remarks today was stupid. Saying insurance companies will pay for expense associated with pill is wrong. Cost incurred by health plan is seen in rates charged the next year.
If we breath and touch we need immunizations.
Yearly exams are looking to catch problems early when easier to care for as usually cheaper.
Smoking cessation is to stop a behavior. Same for weight loss programs. Activity for use of pill doesn’t stop. Can cause getting disease as well as spread.
There are many forms of diabetes. Certainly not necessarily a disease process. Young get it and not all old do. Pancreas and its production of insulin decides. Is so serious I belong to insurance called SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM. I can not wake up tomorrow and say I no longer will have diabetes. Cost of diabetes is very high. Insurance does not pay 100 % of my cost. Nor my co-pay. Pill is choice and very cheap in comparison. If you work for a church is your choice and you know you must pay out of your pocket for the minor charge if you want.
You want to take responsibility out of your hands and say cost of unwanted child is expensive. You speak of the rare times having a baby affects your health. I have no choice with diabetes and I can say it can harm your eyes, blood flow, heart, feet, feeling, death, etc...And is not rare.
bumacare was one the rare bills passed years ago that still has years to go to be fully implemented. If Supreme Court does not rule it down, it will not pay for all of our health needs. CBO says it will cost jobs and cause larger deficit...

Bill Hedges of MO 2:51AM February 11, 2012

Thank you for a well thought out article. The issue is employer/employee. When the employees were hired, they were not put through a "Catholic" test, but they were then required to have the same beliefs as their employer. A lot has been said about religious freedom. Let's talk about the rights of employees and individuals. Religious groups need to understand that their opinion does not take precedence in an employer/employee situation.

Elizabeth Anderson of MA 11:02PM February 10, 2012

To Bill, the difference is diabetes is a disease process. You have a chronic disorder that needs treatment on a ongoing basis. Birth control services/methods are a preventive measure. There are many preventative services already covered in insurance plans such as smoking cessation, weight loss programs, Immunizations, yearly exams etc. no copays are generally collected. The idea is that if you prevent unwanted pregnancies, diseases or bad lifestyles, you save $$ and health.

Susan of IN 10:47PM February 10, 2012

To Bill, the difference is diabetes is a disease process. You have a chronic disorder that needs treatment on a ongoing basis. Birth control services/methods are a preventive measure. There are many preventative services already covered in insurance plans such as smoking cessation, weight loss programs, Immunizations, yearly exams etc. no copays are generally collected. The idea is that if you prevent unwanted pregnancies, diseases or bad lifestyles, you save $$ and health.

Susan of IN 10:46PM February 10, 2012

The catholic church has a right to their beliefs. Unfortunately, that is not everyone's belief. My belief is that bringing unwanted children into my life is morally wrong. What about my beliefs?
I beg to differ that everyone can afford their Rx for contraceptives. Some are $9.00 a pack. But many are 40-50.00 a month. Other methods can cost several hundred dollars (Mirena). No matter what the monthly cost is, you need money to pay for exams before any physician will prescribe them to you. Many people have no healthcare coverage. And that, is old news. And don't tell me it is free "everywhere". It is not. I work in healthcare.

Susan of IN 10:33PM February 10, 2012

Jen of OR _ Because of make-up of my body I have diabetes. I must pay my co-pay. Not women for birth control pills. Is my civil rights being trampled on by you getting your pills totally free and I must pay co-pays ?
Health plans are different. If you go to work for a Catholic Church you assume the limitations or you go outside their health plan and buy for birth control on your own. Find other employment if you wish. I have heard of police departments that do not allow police officers to smoke off duty. Smoking IS still legal.
They accepted conditions of employment with the health plan benefits or can leave if you don’t want to flip the bill for the pills and doctor visit on their own.
Not a human rights issue. No one is stopping you from getting the pill. Unlike what the buma is saying, if the insurance company of Catholic church provides pills free, cost to plan affects what church pays the following year. Nothing is FREE. So Church pays for the pills...

Bill Hedges of MO 7:13PM February 10, 2012

The Catholic bishops do not represent the views of most of America's Catholics. Most American Catholics have used or currently use birth control, just like most of America's non-Catholics. The fact is that, for people born with uteruses, birth control is a basic healthcare necessity. Can people really no longer distinguish between organizations, the beliefs of their members, and the rights of those they employ? This isn't about beliefs; it's about human rights.

Jen of OR 6:27PM February 10, 2012

The Catholic church is not telling you what to do with your body.
The Catholic church is telling you that that they don't want to have to pay for your choice to do things with your body that they find morally wrong.
I personally disagree with their stance. But I agree that they should have the right to maintain that stance.

Carl of UT 4:44PM February 10, 2012