I don’t know how many know, but what has been called the largest legal lawsuit in defense of religious freedom was filed this week. You would think this would be a major news story yet other than a couple small mentions it was not covered by major media sources. I think our paper printed one AP story.
This lawsuit will determine if the federal government can determine how they can tell any religious organization how they can run their organization. Obama care is not just about contraceptives. If Obama care can control their medical care against their beliefs, then they can control any aspect they decide is important. This goes around the freedom of religion in the Constitution.
You would think they would warrant massive stories about how this law is taking over religion yet we have almost no news about it. I don’t know if Memorial and other Catholic groups are part of this lawsuit, yet we have the government trying to force their rules down the throats of churches, hospitals, and other religious organizations. This affects all religious groups, not just Catholic, but they are at least fighting the beast that our government has become.
I hope more of us will pay attention and find out how this law will take away your freedom in many different ways. The lawsuit may work out in defeating this government intrusion but you never know with the courts.
Bob McNaub
Rossville
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I believe the so called religious freedom lawsuit Mr. McNaub speaks of is the same one that's
been kicked around Facebook for the last few months. Isn't this the one that says an employer can deny healthcare coverage to his employees for "religious" reasons? If the courts say that's okay than can I as an employer only hire white folks if I tell you that I believe all other races are the children of Ham and according to scripture are cursed?
And women in the workplace? I could really have a field day with that one couldn't I?
As for cramming something down peoples throats, the mentioned denomination Mr. McNaub speaks of did a pretty good job at that during the Inquisitions.
As long as my beliefs apply to how I live my life and not somebody else's can they be called
a religion? If I trespass my faith to try to control someone else's life, then it becomes fanaticism.
F. Doug Craig
Chattanooga
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Bob McNaub,
The Catholic bishops brought this lawsuit against the Obama administration only after rejecting its compromise that would have had insurance companies, not Catholic employers pay for birth control coverage. You just can't satisfy these guys.
Brittany Golden
Hixson
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But Brittany, who pays the insurance companies? All that was, was a gimmick on the part of the Obama administration (a gimmick that was never even offered in writing).
The broader point is that this is about the overreaching power of the federal government. This is just the beginning of the dangers of Obamacare. Imagine in the not too distant future, when a Republican wins the Presidency. It is bound to happen again at some point. Will you be okay if there is then a five-day waiting period placed on abortions? What about a requirement that anyone that receives government assistance must be placed on birth control? What about mandatory diet and health regiment for everyone with a BMI over a certain amount?
I could go on and on. If the government controls health this much, they control everything.
Mike Willingham
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Ms. Brittany Golden:
Just who pays the insurance companies so that they in turn can pay for birth control?
Although I don't agree with the Catholic church's stance, this is a matter of religious freedom and a core belief of that church.
Mike Romines