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 5 of 12)
61. 59. And the liberal democrats pander to the pagan left. So what else is new???
Chris Bruno at 5:12PM on Jul 18th 2008
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That post desrves some sort of award for, "DUMB."
Captain Negative at 6:00PM on Jul 18th 2008
62. "I think you don't have a viable alternate explanation."
I can't prove there aren't space aliens either, Bob.
Captain, I did take a quick look at your link there. I didn't find any reference to NCLB.
Why the reluctance to lay out the theory you referenced, Clif?
You're certainly never at a loss for words on any and all other
topics.
bob at 6:13PM on Jul 18th 2008
63. 27. Next, right now the oil majors are sitting on 65 million productive acres they are not drilling. This is presumably to allow prices to rise.
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Ahh yes Pelosi talking points straight from her mouth huh?YOu know as well as everyone that the acres have not been determined "productive". So it is ok to drill on the 65 million acres but you can't drill off the coast or Anwar typical liberal.
Steven R at 10:25AM on Jul 18th 2008
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Then we shouldn't drill ANWR because those "reserves" aren't proven either. They're just an estimate by the USGS based on similar geology in other oil-producing areas. Not one hole has been drilled to prove any reserves, or even if that much oil is actually recoverable. Why not start with the 65 million acres that they're already allowed to drill?
Bob at 6:57PM on Jul 18th 2008
64. 57. So,Robert,you're saying the only ones allowed to speak their mind are other radical God-hating atheists like yourself?People that ignorantly dump everyone else together as "bible thunpers","religious nutjobs",people that Can't tolerate anyone else having a thought or beleif of their own,that seem to have a pathological need to bash and hate at every opportunity?And to think you call us intolerant.
Bill Triebel at 5:05PM on Jul 18th 2008
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Bill a bit of a hippocritical post after your#53 post,don't you think?
Bob Johnson at 6:39PM on Jul 18th 2008
65. bob, I think you are assuming that Clif is saying the anthrax attacks were some sort of plot to get N.C.L.B. passed.
That is not the case, of course. The N.C.L.B. was passed during that time when Congress was defacating in their collective pants because the Senate and House chambers were closed down because of the anthrax attacks.
Surely you recall that to be against *anything* the bush-cheney junta proposed was to be labeled, "un-patriotic."
Anything that the junta proposed was rubber stamped during that period of panic which was just a few weeks after the 9-11 attacks.
It is in the chronology of events on the site I referenced.
Clearly, the anthrax came from a supposedly secure, U.S. facility. Preponderance of evidence suggest the same, "shadow government" behind 9-11 was also behind the anthrax attacks.
Captain Negative at 6:54PM on Jul 18th 2008
66. So in summary,a doc should have the right to refuse.
xxx
"Above all, do no harm." Do mad africans take the Hippocratic Oath? Harm can come as easily from inaction as wrong action.
I didn't like sacrificing frogs for pituitary glands or lycing populations to make counts, but somebody would have had to do it or we would all have learned nothing. I also learned to hunt, kill, and clean my own critters and grow my own vegetables for the same reason.
Clif Kuplen at 6:54PM on Jul 18th 2008
67. Why the reluctance to lay out the theory you referenced, Clif?
xxxxx
why the reluctance from you, bob,and the assumption that I had anything more to say. Has anything been solved?
And where did you get that I had a 'theory'? Quote or post number, please. Man you guys are either zero or ten, flip or flop every time, it seems.
If you know where the anthrax came from, please make a statement and back it up. I offered nothing except the obvious from national television news.
Steven Hatfill was awarded about six million dollars for being a red herring for years. That puts the mcbush at square zero.
Now what?
Clif Kuplen at 6:59PM on Jul 18th 2008
68. A Physician takes an oath to do no harm to his or her patient and even more, to not judge them. A physician cannot choose the patients that they want to treat. They don't get to attach value to one group or the other. They end up treating a lot of people whose values and behaviors they would otherwise find objectionable. Go to a trauma center and you won't find a drunk driver, or criminal being denied treatment. Such judgements are not the role of a physician.
Steve at 7:11PM on Jul 18th 2008
69. To vote for Obama is the same as voting for Bush. Both of them did not served in military,have plenty of money, good talkers that promised results; promises and more promises. Both are green and unexperience, with little or nothing to show for it. They tell you what you want to hear and take advantage of you.Who then? McCain is also green. But he is more experience in the military. McCain is not George W. Bush or Obama is Jimmy Carter.McCain did risk his life for his country,the USA. He did not dodged military service like Obama or Bush did. While Bush had single citizenship only to the USA; Obama still retains double duel citizenship. Two allegiances, two loyalties are one for the USA; the other is for Kenya in SE Africa, where his father is from.
Luis Contreras at 7:26PM on Jul 18th 2008
70. Clif,
You made a point of relating anthrax and NCLB.
If you know of no relationship, theoretical or otherwise, what's the point of the statement?
Were you just throwing out random thoughts and patching them together with contractions?
bob at 7:16PM on Jul 18th 2008
71. First of all - there was no draft for Obama to dodge when he was a younger man. Since the draft was officially ended in 1973 Obama would have been 12 years old when it was repealed. These are easily discovered facts.
Secondly, the issue of dual citizenship. If this is an issue then there should be some serious housecleaning in this administration since a number of high ranking advisors to the President also have dual citizenship in Israel. If that is not an issue then it must be ok for anyone else.
Steve at 7:56PM on Jul 18th 2008
72. I see this a bit differently than you do.
You say he's giving in to the Religious right, I say in doing this he is RESPECTING their religious beliefs. There are many doctors out there willing to abort a child, why shouldn't doctors who do not believe in abortion or birth control be forced to perform them??
Why should Christians who do not believe in abortion be forced by the government to perform abortions?
Why is it okay for those who support abortion to force those who do not to perform abortions to perform them? Why should they be forced to do something they disagree with, isn't that akin to taking away THEIR religious freedoms??
It's not the president who is taking away freedom, it's the people taking away their own freedoms.
Please read the Consititution it's not FREEDOM FROM religion it's FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!
The church is not dictating to these men, their beliefs are..should they be forced to go against their own consciensce? HOW DARE ANYONE SAY THEY SHOULD!! Including our Goverment..
Bug at 8:17PM on Jul 18th 2008
73. Captain Negative
Hiding behind the trees to get away form all the bad guys and the boggie men.
1- The lunatic 9/11 theroy which is never put in any form of a plot, just a hodge podge of false ideas of a conspiracy, with no connection made with one another.
2-anthrax conspiracy-well just theroy, no facts, and for sure maybe and possible the anthrax came from a government facility. This is another anthrax theroy-it was a Democrat plot based on the fear the Republicans were gaining voter support after their 9/11 plot, so out that concern, they came up with an anthrax scare to win back the votes they thought they lost to the 9/11 Republican Plot.
3-Viet War-Communist domination scare-that all of southeast asia would fall to communists if N.Vietnam won their civil war with S.Vietnam. Well that Democrat war, built on lies, cost over 50000 Americans their lives. N.Vietnam won the war but South East Asia did not fall under Communist Control. The domino theroy did not happen, not one country fell under Communist control in SE Asia after N.Vietnam won.
CN- suffers from delusions
Energy Plan Now at 8:54PM on Jul 18th 2008
74. I got out of the California university system one year before Ronnie wrecked it.
Clif Kuplen at 11:50PM on Jul 17th 2008
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I thought you didn't attend college? Oh, you were never drafted despite the number of people who were. Lottery started in 1970, how were you eligible? Methinks thou are a bullshit artist of the nth degree.
Ded at 9:45PM on Jul 18th 2008
75. 18. When a guy wacks off, he is also letting off the "potential for life". I believe it is indeed arrogant to say that you can define when and where the beginning of life is. Once again, most of these people who are against any type of abortion are still for sex with condoms when in fact, no one wants to confront the issue that sperm itself is a potential. I say if you are against it than no sex and no masturbating period.
Michael at 3:08AM on Jul 18th 2008
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Little confused aren't you? Prevention of pregnancy through condom use or the pill is choice. Getting drunk and rutting like a bull resulting in a pregnancy terminated by abortion is not choice, it's getting rid of an action caused by carelessness. Now go whack off, your pillow isn't fertile now.
Dedmanrisn at 9:59PM on Jul 18th 2008