We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob - Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, MD, February 14, 2012 – The Obama administration’s decision to make it mandatory for employers to provide birth control health benefits to employees has caused agitation in the Catholic church (and other groups).
The Catholic church insists that their argument is not a money matter, but a religious one. Forgive my cynicism, but I think money is part of the equation.
The Catholic church didn’t get so wealthy by ignoring such financial issues. The fact that the church, along with other religious organizations, enjoys an enviable tax advantage surely helps them. Not having to pay for what any other employer must offer will do the same.
The general public’s main contention for those opposing the Obama mandate is that it infringes on the right of free religion. In the case of the Catholic church, the church contends that asking them to provide an extra level of insurance for birth control to non-Catholics and Catholics is against the religious beliefs of the church.
The Catholic church has long maintained opposition to any kind of effective birth control, notwithstanding the fact that most Catholics use it. http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/02/-do-98-percent-of-catholic-women-use-birth-control-ctd.html The joke told about this (when I was still a practicing Catholic) was, “-What do you call a man that practices the rhythm method? Daddy.”
Catholics all over the world do not follow the church stand on birth control. It is a failure that both the hierarchy and violators have largely decided to ignore.
The Obama administration decision has been to accommodate religious employers, offering a compromise. As I understand it, the church will not have to pay for birth control coverage of its employees; however the insurance companies that serve these groups would have to absorb the expense, offering birth control for those employees that want it.
There are not enough reported details to know how this will work. Supporters of this compromise insist that the health insurance companies are interested in providing no-cost birth control because it reduces costs associated with pregnancies and birthing, our experience with business tells us different.
The fallacy is that this extra coverage would not add to the cost of health insurance to the employer or the employees. History tell us it will result in increased costs for all employees, male and female, and not just those working for religious organizations but for all groups that the insurance company covers.
Remember how, once upon a time, we were told that ATMs would reduce the costs for banks so that we could expect improved service in other areas. Not only did service not increase, we are now asked to routinely pay for using the ATMs.
It is a fact of life that where there is a will (to collect more fees) there is a way (to do so).
So what will be the result in this case? If we are to follow past and current trends, the health insurance companies will figure out a way to collect the money they are supposed to absorb in higher premiums or reducing service or both.
This will result in yet another subsidy for the church and added expense to the rest of us.
The Catholic church is among the richest organizations in the world (if not the richest). Its yearly income is larger than the income of the five largest U.S. corporations COMBINED.
Does it make sense for the 99% to subsidize it even more?
Mario Salazar, the 21st Century Pacifist, is a bleeding heart liberal, Agnostic, exercise fanatic, Redskin fan, technophile, civil engineer, combat Infantry veteran, jewelry maker, amateur computer programmer, Environmental Engineer, Colombian-born, freethinker, and, not surprisingly, pacifist. You can find his articles - ranging from politics to cooking a mean brisket – in 21st Century Pacifist at Communities @WashingtonTimes.com. Follow Mario on Twitter @chibcharus, #TWTC and Facebook @Mario Salazar.
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
