The Interfaith Rally for Religious Freedom Held in Downtown New Baltimore
On Sunday, October 14, at 1 p.m.-2 p.m. the controversy over the Health and Human Services Mandate (HHS Mandate) poured into the Walter and Mary Burke Park in downtown New Baltimore. The city's Interfaith Rally for Religious Freedom was a peaceful call to action for people from all faiths to come together and stand in peaceful protest over government laws that deny their beliefs.
Many people believe the HHS Mandate violates this right. Here are the words from standupforreligiousfreedom.com.
“The new Mandate would require nearly all private health insurance plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, surgical sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs—drugs that interfere with implantation in the womb and therefore destroy the life of a human being in the earliest stage of development.”
This mandate is the direct result of the Affordable Care Act. You probably know it as “Obamacare.”
Arriving a couple minutes late (had to fetch my camera, of course), I witnessed first-hand how peaceful the atmosphere was, with many people standing arm in arm, American flags held proudly up in the air. Bishop Michael Byrnes was the keynote speaker, and urged the captivated crowd to stand up for their religious freedoms, which seem to be disappearing one by one.
It goes without saying that any topic involving sterilization and contraceptive services soon leads to hot debate. My intent is not to pick a side, but to simply raise awareness, seeing as no matter what side of the fence you happen to be on, this will affect you and the people you know relatively soon. Check out standupforreligiousfreedom.com/mandate/ to see the basic facts of the HHS Mandate, because there is much more that goes into it than what I briefly described here. From that link, you can even download a pdf Fact Sheet. Then, decide for yourself.
kidcat24
3:38 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Don't like approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, surgical sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs, Don't Use Them. It's that simple.
kidcat24
3:38 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Republicans if you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then it's time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian Values. John Fugelsang
Apologist
8:51 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
I was at the rally and can tell you that it was not primarily about contraception, sterlizations, or abortion-inducing drugs, It was about employeers to be able to freely exercise their 1st Amendment right of freely exercising their religion freedoms by not having to violate their consciences. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vECtrmRyVEA&feature=player_embedded
Debbie El-Bathy
8:51 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
I don't believe that there have been attacks on religious freedom in the U.S. I understand the struggles religious organizations are facing under the Affordable Care Act. However, if religious organizations hire public employees they cannot deny those public employees access to affordable medical coverage. If these organizations truly disagree with the mandates under this act, then they should give up their non profit status: they would then be able to keep in line with their belief system.
Apologist
7:18 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Non profit status has nothing to do with it. The HHS mandate is forcing ALL employers to comply, even private entrepreneurs that do not want to violate their faith. Even if religious institutions changed their non-profit status, they would still be forced to violate their consciences by paying for coverage.. (Check the Youtube link I posted above.) Big picture here is that this is a clear violation of the first amendment right of freely exercising one's faith.. Note the word exercising.. Not just practising worship, but the FREE EXERCISE of one's faith in all one does... Including the healthcare policies employers chose to offer through self-funded policies.
And yes... Any employers can and do create their own benefit packages. For instance, if I were to start a new job, I just cannot demand 4 weeks of vacation time or educational reimbursement. I guess I could ask for those things, but it would be the employers right to say "No".. We even don't go around telling employers to how much high, deductables, copays, or max out of pockets can be... Those vary by employer. So, how can you say that employers cannot deny access to procedures or drugs that violate the employers conscience rights?
kidcat24
9:00 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Churches should not be tax exempt anymore if they write policy.
Apologist
7:18 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Not sure I understand the comment above.. Could you elaborate? Are you saying, just because I attend a church I have no right to exercise my 1st Amendment right of free speech about public policy?
kidcat24
9:00 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
That is just it. Medical Coverage. If you don't believe in something don't do it.
Apologist
7:18 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Religious institutions are trying not to provide self-funded policies that violate their consciences and put their eternal salvation at risk.. It's the Government that is violating 1st amendment rights in this case.
Troy Young
10:45 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Kidcat24: I wish that I had a choice to not do something if I don't believe in it but unfortunately the government doesn't allow me to have that choice. The government it getting worse by taking more of my freedoms away and Obamacare is just one example. Obamacare takes my freedom of letting me choose rather I pay for health care or not, letting me choose if I want to pay for others to have abortions (which goes against my religion) and I don't want my money going to pay for contraceptives for others. Pastors and even small business owners can now be at risk if they stand up for what they believe in such as not supporting the homosexual lifestyle. I want a government that will let me keep more of my freedoms, money, religion, and guns. For those who want to give those things up go ahead I won't stop you but don't take more of mine.
Apologist
2:25 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Everyone should watch this Youtube video of Congressman Trey Gowdy (US. Rep - SC) questioning HHS Secretary Sebelius about the legality and constitutality of the HHS Mandate. This video is not about politics or contraception.. It's about Constitutional Law..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QfRa3SdU0I