CHURCHES MUST PAY BIRTH CONTROL: COURT

Associated Press ^ | 10/20/06

[presidio9]

Catholic and other religious social service groups must provide contraceptive coverage to their employees even if they consider contraception a sin, according to yesterday's ruling by the state's highest court.

The 6-0 decision by the state Court of Appeals hinged on defining Catholic Charities and the other nine religious groups suing the state to be social service agencies, rather than only operating as churches.

The organizations "believe contraception to be sinful," the decision states. "We must weigh against [their] interests in adhering to the tenets of their faith the state's substantial interest in fostering equality between the sexes, and in providing women with better health care."

The New York Catholic Conference is considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"We think this has never really been about contraception, we think it was to target the church and open the door for coverage of abortion," said Dennis Poust, spokesman for the Catholic conference.

The court said the fact that the organizations hire employees outside their faith is a critical factor and they deserve the rights sought under the law.

"That ought to be offensive to anyone of faith," Poust said.

"I think it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of Catholicism, which teaches that to be saved, Catholics must perform works of mercy," Poust said. "Faith alone is not enough . . . and the way the church performs its works of mercy is through its Catholic Charities, its schools and its hospitals -

[SoothingDave]

Well, since they're only caught in the crossfire, let's just ignore them, and move right on in to Feel Good About Myself territory.

I'm sorry. Let's stop and have a pity party for the red herrings.

SD

[absolootezer0]

the agreement was made to raise children "Christian." and as i said, i didn't care one way or another.
as far as annullment.. i don't know how that would work, because the reason for divorce was her committing adultry.

[presidio9]

the agreement was made to raise children "Christian."

Sorry that's not good enough. Catholic doctrine says that Catholics may only marry non-Catholics, if both parents agree to raise their children Catholic. I don't make the rules, I'm just telling you what they are. You and your first wife were never actually married according to the laws of the Catholic Church.

[ridesthemiles]

So the next move by the church is to rescind their health benefits? Give a "raise" to employees and tell them to find their own health insurance.

[Aquinasfan]

This could be good for the Church as a whole. It may serve as a wake-up call if the bishops don't roll over.

[Aquinasfan]

The sickening fact in this is that the State is treating pregnancy as a disease, since they consider pregnancy prevention to be "health care."

[SoothingDave]

Of course. Don't you know a woman's fertility is a malady that requires medicine to correct?

[absolootezer0]

not being catholic myself, i'm fairly ignorant of catholic laws. we made a compromise, the priest said "you're married" and signed the marriage license, so i believed him. in my Church (Assembly of God) that would have been accepted as being married.

[presidio9]

not being catholic myself, i'm fairly ignorant of catholic laws. we made a compromise, the priest said "you're married" and signed the marriage license, so i believed him. in my Church (Assembly of God) that would have been accepted as being married.

The priest could also tell you you were the Pope, but it wouldn't make it true. As you had no intention of raising your children Catholic, he had no authority to marry you.

There are still some priests who offer Communion to politicians like John Kerry who are 100% pro-abortion. The Church's official policy on pro-abortion politicians is that they have excommunicated themselves. Priests who make their own rules are not speaking for the Church. You were never married to your wife in the eyes of the Catholic Church. On the plus side, your first wife was only guilty of fornication, not adultry.

[Old Professer]

Frying pan or fire, either way your goose is cooked.

[redgolum]

I can't argue with that. As I've said, the Church and its social services arms need to decide whom they really serve. If it's a smaller operation without gov't money, but with their souls and witness intact, it seems a no-brainer to me

Amen to that. Just what till they start revoking the tax exempt status of churches over similar things.

[ELS]

There were some FR threads about it recently.

[Maeve]

I thank the judges for making it clear that they are God's enemies and enemies of God's people.

Look out! Chastisements incoming...

Pingish.

[Maeve]

Thanks for the link to those threads! (God bless you and Mary keep you!)

[Coleus]

Woe unto him that call evil good and good evil"-- Isaiah 5:20-21

[Maeve]

Amen and Ditto.

[doug from upland]

We should react with beheadings and suicide bombers!!! Wait, it's not our religion that does that. Never mind.

[BlackElk]

The Church could also take the position that being a practicing Roman Catholic has just become a bona fide occupational qualification to be hired in New York Catholic institutions to facilitate the Church's avoidance of such satanic dictates or, alternatively, add some equivalent amount to the paycheck of each employee to the cost of birthcontrol-free and abortion-free medical insurance and leave it to the employee to buy insurance as the employee sees fit or create a morally acceptable plan outside of diocesan control and let the employees know that they can subscribe with their extra money.

Requiring the Church itself to engage in major sin cannot be constitutional. In any event, the Church MUST appeal to SCOTUS.

[BlackElk]

Yes, they should be fired.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Mnay "Catholic" social service and medical institutions are operating almost entirely on tax money. It would make no appreciable difference in my taxes if they shut down. And most of the larger ones would give in on the health insurance issues before they'd shut down. In many states, they don't even legally have the option of not providing health insurance to full-time employees. That's not how it should be in my opinion, but the Catholic Church and affiliated charities are big promoters of socialism, so I'm not shedding any tears for them when they get what naturally goes along with socialism.