Health care providers who depend on federal aid to operate may soon be required to certify that they will not discriminate against doctors, nurses, or any other employees who object to administering birth control and abortion services. In turn, the proposed rule by the Department of Health and Human Services would allow any federal grant recipient to obstruct a woman's access to contraception. The New York Times also reports "the new requirement is needed to ensure that federal money does not support morally coercive or discriminatory practices or policies in violation of federal law."
What is the religious reasoning behind this? Some forms of contraception prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in a woman's womb. For members of the religious right, that is classified as abortion because a fertilized egg marks the beginning of "the creation life." In fact, the HHS states the following "definitions" for abortion:
What is the religious reasoning behind this? Some forms of contraception prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in a woman's womb. For members of the religious right, that is classified as abortion because a fertilized egg marks the beginning of "the creation life." In fact, the HHS states the following "definitions" for abortion:
Abortion: An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. There are two commonly held views on the question of when a pregnancy begins. Some consider a pregnancy to begin at conception (that is, the fertilization of the egg by the sperm), while others consider it to begin with implantation (when the embryo implants in the lining of the uterus). A 2001 Zogby International American Values poll revealed that 49% of Americans believe that human life begins at conception. Presumably many who hold this belief think that any action that destroys human life after conception is the termination of a pregnancy, and so would be included in their definition of the term "abortion." Those who believe pregnancy begins at implantation believe the term "abortion" only includes the destruction of a human being after it has implanted in the lining of the uterus.
The proposal by the HHS basically discredits the Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade by making the indication that what a woman does with her body is not a private matter, but rather something the government and complete strangers would have control over. Hospital pharmacists would get away with refusing to fill prescriptions for birth control, and doctors would be able to turn away rape victims who seeks emergency contraception. Remember, this is all in the name of religion. Separation of church and state is a myth, and it always has been.
Reader Comments ( Page 12 of 12)
166.
Whatever your politics, however you lean, and however you feel about the
current administration, this report should open some eyes. Military losses,
1980 through 2007.
As tragic as the loss of any member of the US Armed Forces is, consider
the following statistics: The annual fatalities of military members while
actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2006 - by any cause.
1980 .......... 2,392 ( Carter Year )
1981 .......... 2,380 ( Reagan Year)
1984 .......... 1,999 ( Reagan Year)
1988 .......... 1,819 ( Reagan Year)
1989 .......... 1,636 ( George H W Year )
1990 .......... 1,508 ( George H W Year )
1991 .......... 1,787 ( George H W Year )
1992 .......... 1,293 ( George H W Year )
1993 ......... 1,213 ( Clinton Year)
1994 .......... 1,075 ( Clinton Year)
1995 .......... 2,465 ( Clinton Year)
1996 .......... 2,318 ( Clinton Year)
1997 .......... 817 ( Clinton Year)
1998 .......... 2,252 ( Clinton Year)
1999 .......... 1,984 ( Clinton Year)
2000 ............1,983 ( Clinton Year)
2001 ............. 890( George W Year )
2002 .......... 1,007 ( George W Year )
2003 .......... 1,410 ( George W Year )
2004 ......... 1,887 ( George W Year )
2005 ............. 919 ( George W Year )
2006.............. 920 ( George W Year )
2007. ............ 899 ( George W Year )
Clintonyears (1993-2000): 14,107 deaths
George W years (2001-2007): 7,932 deaths
If you are surprised when you look at these figures, so was I. These
figures mean that the loss from the two latest conflicts in the Middle East are
LESS than the loss of military personnel during Bill Clinton 's presidency;
when America wasn't even involved in a war! (Unless you include Bosnia or the disgrace of
Mogadishu, Somalia when Clinton failed to respond to terrorists; Remember 'Blackhawk Down'?)
And, I was even more shocked when I read that in 1980, during the reign
of President (Nobel Peace Prize winner) Jimmy Carter , there were 2,392 US
military fatalities! From what? How?
I think that these figures indicate that many members of our Media and our politicians
will pick and choose the information on which they report. Of course we all know that
they present only those 'facts' which support their agenda-driven reporting. But why
do so many of them march in lock-step to twist the truth? Where do so many of them get
their agenda? Obviously there is one shared agenda. Could it be from the most powerful
Democratic family of the decade?
Do you want further proof? Consider the latest census of Americans. It
shows the following FACTS about the distribution of American citizens,
by race:
European descent ...........................69.12%
Hispanic......................................12.5%
Black .................... .........................12.3%
Asian........................................... 3.7%
Native American............................1.0%
Other............................................2.6%
Many media lead us to feel the military death ratio is off balanced compared to the
distribution by race in America . Here are the fatalities by RACE over the past three
years in Iraqi Freedom. Do the comparison yourself.
European descent (white) ............74.31%
Hispanic...................................10.74%
Black ......................................... 9.67%
Asian....................................... 1.81%
Native American....................... 1.09%
Other....................................... 0.33%
I was surprised again. Our mainstream media continues to spin these figures
(for political gain). Nothing more. It's all about politics.
I hope that during the time between now and November, intelligent
Americans can decipher:
the facts from the spin,
the spinners from the leaders,
those who seek even more power from those that seek justice,
and the dividers from the uniters.
Over the next months let's be good listeners and see and hear who tries to divide
our nation; and who wants to unite our nation. Who wants to control how our money
is spent and who wants our money spent the way we would spend it. Who seeks
power and who seeks justice? Who spins the facts and who is genuine.
(These statistics are published by Congressional Research Service, and
they may be confirmed by anyone at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf)
Observant at 12:19PM on Jul 24th 2008
167. 65. Clif Kuplen,
Legitimate medical science supports my position that human life and pregnancy begins at conception. It is Biology 101. Millions of doctors agree with the pro-life position. Abortion is murder!
xx
Preacherbabble. Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's rain. I've taught bio 101.
You just try to make a life out of dead gametes and if you're successful, we'll get you published, but don't you come pretending that medical science wants anything to do with what you say.
And again, the punishment for murder is death. You want permission to murder young women who got pregnant and terminated it, it looks to me.
You call women you don't even know murderers - millions of them, and many friends of mine.
The punishment for premeditated murder is either life without parole or death.
When are you going to get started prosecuting innocent people for your superstitions?
If they're MURDERERS and you don't go after them for murderers, that makes you an enabler, just like a wife who won't interfere with a husband sexually abusing a child.
Murderers you say yet you sit and do nothing? You jeopordize your immortal soul.
Works get you to heaven, not words.
Now go persecute them murderers since you're obviously without sin and have a whole lotta stones.
Clif Kuplen at 4:52PM on Jul 24th 2008
168. (These statistics are published by Congressional Research Service, and
they may be confirmed by anyone at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf)
Observant at 12:19PM on Jul 24th 2008
xxx
the one you didn't publish was the combat deaths during the Clinton administration:
76
Now go pray for forgiveness.
Clif Kuplen at 4:53PM on Jul 24th 2008