Let me begin this article by stating I find Catholicism's prohibition on birth control nuts. I find it extremely inconsistent with their position against abortion. Encouraging use of birth control reduces abortions. Their current policy is counterproductive. That being said this is a long-standing, sincerely held, position of Roman Catholic Church. When the Obama administrations requires that all employer-based health plans include contraception it is sacrificing religious liberty upon the altar of public policy.
In case anyone has forgotten let me remind you that the First Amendment of the Constitution states "Congress shall pass no law establishing religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" What Pres. Obama, via regulatory decree, is attempt to interfere with said free exercise. Not only is he interfering with it, he is placed a price tag on what he thinks religious liberty is worth; four dollars. Four dollars is what you can buy a month supply generic birth control for at Walmart without insurance.
A legitimate public policy debate on the merits of birth control would be valid if it were not ubiquitously available to everyone. The fact it is universally available only leaves the question of who's going to pay. The president wishes to force private employers to pay. This begs the question from where does he think he gets the authority to make such a dictate? The 10th amendment of the Constitution limits the authority of the federal government to that which is expressly granted within the Constitution and to the regulation of interstate commerce. As far as I can tell the Constitution nowhere addresses healthcare, insurance, or private employers.
Obamacare is a complete usurpation of authority by the Federal government.
What needs to be done?
First, Obamacare should be repealed in its entirety. Regulation of health care, where appropriate, should be provided by the states. We've got to stop this one-size-fits-all regulatory mentality; return authority to the states; and be the laboratories of democracy to which Tocqueville celebrated.
