Monday, March 18, AD 2024 10:17pm

It really is all about being “pro-choice”…

If one is to believe the “rumors” currently circulating around Washington, DC—otherwise called “reactions to trial balloons”—the Archbishop of New York, Most Rev. Timothy Dolan, walked away a winner following his meeting with President Obama last week.

Apparently, the Archbishop of New York convinced the President to uphold the so-called “conscience clause” that would allow religious institutions to be exempt from certain healthcare regulations that are to be promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, on August 1, 2012.

In the crosshairs is the contraceptive-coverage rule which specifies a more general provision in the Obamacare healthcare reform.  It requires all new insurance plans to cover “preventive services”—including birth control and abortofacients—without co-pays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs.

Knowing how Washington, DC, works, some Democrat lawmakers have taken note of the administration’s trial balloon and have gone on the offense.

According to an article in the Washington Post, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) raised the issue with President Obama while she was campaigning with him in New Hampshire.  That discussion followed conference calls last week between other top White House officials and members of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus.  U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) said:

I think in the 21st century, most people are stunned to hear that we would even be talking about whether women can buy birth control through their insurance policies.  You would be denying millions of Americans the ability to have an essential part of their insurance coverage because of some attenuated religious affiliation of their employer.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CN) opined:

What’s baffling is not just the policy, but the political calculus here.  The effect would be to undermine, if not eviscerate, the energy and enthusiasm of huge numbers of young people, women and independent voters who believe in the President.

The President of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, called it “unthinkable” that the administration would incorporate the conscience clause in the final regulations.

More interesting to The Motley Monk than all of that political posturing is the article’s report of a discussion involving a graduate student, Taina Vargas:

However, if [Catholic] organizations were to be exempted from the federal rule, these individuals would have to continue paying out-of-pocket charges for birth control—about $20 to $30 per month, according to Planned Parenthood.

Taina Vargas would not even have that option. Vargas, a graduate student studying for a master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations at Seton Hall University, said she was surprised to learn that the Catholic institution’s health plan does not cover her birth-control prescription.

“This really is an issue of principle for me,” said Vargas, who is not Catholic.

“If young women like myself choose to be sexually active and don’t want a child right now so we can focus on our education, I think [birth control] is something the university should provide…

I don’t think it’s right for someone else to make this decision for me.”

Even though Taina Vargas is attending a Catholic university, she is “surprised,” citing some unnamed principle that would require Seton Hall to provide her with birth control so that she can be sexually active and not have a child “right now.”

Vargas’ story raises two important questions:

  1. Exactly what does attending a Catholic university mean for someone like Taina Vargas?
  2. What “principle” does she hold that would trump Catholic moral teaching?

The answers are obvious and are precisely why the conscience clause should prevail.  In this instance, when people go to work for or to attend Catholic universities or colleges, they should fully expect those institutions to uphold Catholic teaching unconditionally.

That’s where Taina Vargas may have it correct: It is a matter of “choice.”

If invited, one can choose to work for or to attend a Catholic institution of higher education with full awareness of its animating moral principles.  If one does not agree with those moral principles, they can choose to turn down the invitation.

 

To read the Washington Post article, click on the following link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/democrats-lobby-against-any-broader-exceptions-to-contraceptive-coverage/2011/11/21/gIQAdHicmN_story.html

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c matt
c matt
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 9:47am

Ms. Vargas’ principle is obvious: Choice for me but not for thee. Of course, her “choice” should be to attend a university that has no inhibitions to providing the insurance coverage she desires. If it’s that important of a principle for her, she should simply complete her studies somewhere else.

And these are the people who will be involved in future “diplomacy” and “international relations”.

Of course, the statemtn that she does not have an “option” is a complete lie – she can pay the visit and prescription out of her own pocket if it’s that important to be “sexually active and not have a child right now.”

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 10:24am

Tim may learn that Obama says one thing and acts otherwise.

It’s all good. It’s justice and peace.

Paul W Primavera
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 10:50am

So Taina Vargas said, “If young women like myself choose to be sexually active and don’t want a child right now so we can focus on our education, I think [birth control] is something the university should provide…”

Does she mean that (being unmarried as one is led to believe) she just has to act like a mindless baboon, wallowing in sexual filth for the titillation of her genitals without the responsibility of the concurrent pregnancy that would otherwise inevitably ensue, and she wants us to think she is rational and educated and sophisticated?

Horse manure! She wants to fornicate in filth like every other fornicator, and then expects the insurance companies or the tax payers to pay for her fornicating ways.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 11:25am

My advice for Ms. Vargas: Effective birth control costs a penny.

Here is what you do when you’re with the man of your dreams (You know the one that loves you so much he could defecate!) and he wants to express his undying love.

Take your penny and hold it snugly betweeen your knees until he realizes you are so much more than his sex toy.

Then, find a man who loves you.

Donald R. McClarey
Admin
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 12:34pm

” I think [birth control] is something the university should provide…

I don’t think it’s right for someone else to make this decision for me.”

Even though Taina Vargas is attending a Catholic university, she is “surprised,” citing some unnamed principle that would require Seton Hall to provide her with birth control so that she can be sexually active and not have a child “right now.””

Ah, perpetual childhood with nanny University or State providing for the perpetual child, including the items necessary to allow the child to fornicate as she wishes so she will not have a child. For Ms. Vargas her University is merely a form of adult day care. I would bet a fair amount of money that she is an advocate of the Occupy Wall Street temper tantrum. Perhaps one day she will mature sufficiently to be a perpetual adolescent which would be an improvement over her current perpetual toddler stage.

Patricia M.
Patricia M.
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 4:34pm

Agreed. & that must be why it’s so common to find discarded pennies, they don’t use them!

“If young women like myself choose to be sexually active and don’t want a child right now so we can focus on our education, I think [birth control] is something the university should provide…”

Focus on education is a precious opportunity to learn and practice the great discipline of cerebral activity. When else?

This non-cerebral activity has become on par with food and shelter for a generation.
I have to say this: The Ten Commandments could be posted on Catholic campuses and dorms, with a reminder of God’s omniscience. Love in the heart and mind bringing one to God’s mercy, whereas adultery as love doesn’t. For the sake of their souls.

trackback
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 7:07pm

[…] It Really is All About being “Pro-Choice” – The Motley Monk, The American Catholic […]

daledog
daledog
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 7:19pm

Obama is going to do what he damn well pleases. At this late stage anyone who thinks that Obama can be convinced to do the right/moral thing is a fool.

Jasper
Jasper
Wednesday, November 23, AD 2011 8:17pm

Paul P,
well said, amen.

Ezza
Ezza
Thursday, November 24, AD 2011 7:42am

I’m trying to hold back my hysterical laughter at the highly amusing banter on this forum. Spot on with the commentary! I only hope Ms Vargas reads them. They will do her more good than her whole university education.
Dear Ms Vargas and crew, Shop shoving your sexual rights down everyone’s throats. If it’s not the pill, it’s the same-sex mob. If it’s not the same-sex mob, it’s the pro-choice idiots. I wish people would wake up and throw their civil libertaran crap back to the 1970’s. Back then, they were high on pot, what’s the exuse for the idiotic campaigning today? Too much Glee, I think.

elm
elm
Thursday, November 24, AD 2011 8:26am

Dr. Tim Grey stated in his 1Corinthians study that the new Corinthian lifestyle can be found at our Universities. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

Myopic.

enness
enness
Friday, November 25, AD 2011 6:56pm

Dear Motley Monk,

I was a bit surprised to find the name of Jean Sibelius here, considering he’s a dead Finnish composer…the name you want is Kathleen Sebelius. 😉

Other than that, I couldn’t agree more.

Micha Elyi
Micha Elyi
Saturday, November 26, AD 2011 3:03am

I concur with daledog.

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