Contraception Conundrum

If you have turned on the TV or scrolled through the Internet, then you have probably seen the recent news about Obama's contraception compromise and the Catholic church. In case you have missed the debate, the Catholic church is opposed to Obama's recent push to have birth-control and other sterilization covered by insurance for non-profit religious based organizations. This mandate has caused quite the stir in the Catholic church, which is opposed to birth control. The Catholic church believes that using birth control closes a man and woman off from sharing in God’s creation of life, it is also that using birth control closes the couple off from a full expression of love, which is total self-giving and the commitment to stay together, regardless of what life brings. The Church has stood by its teachings, and with the recent Obama mandate to force the Church to provide birth control to its employees, the Church is up in arms. The Church argues that this breaches freedom of religion. Obama has changed his tune a little and said that some religious organizations may be able to opt-out of the requirements.

As a Catholic who is pro-choice and supports the use of birth control (I know I may be excommunicated soon) I feel torn. I understand the Church's stance that it should not be forced to provide something to its employees which it is morally opposed to. On the other hand, shouldn't everyone be able to have access to birth control  regardless of where they work? (Yes I know there are those of you who say well they do not have to work for the church.... not the point here people.) The truth is, whether we like it or not, more and more teens, young adults, and adults are engaging in unprotected sex. Not that I condone this practice, but come one, haven't we all at one time or another done something stupid and were thankful we had access to contraception.

I remember having abstinence education in high school and thinking, people you have missed the boat, most of us have already "given away our gift," and for those that haven't telling us its a gift is not going to keep us from doing it. The truth is no matter how much we speak of waiting, most teens are having sex, so why not give them access to make sex safer. I could speak to the way conservative of you and say think about it: do we want more pregnant teens/young adults who are not ready and able to care for a child who will now require federal and state assistance, or would you rather make birth control available to those people and possibly avoid an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy and perhaps an eventual public assistance nightmare (more than we currently have). The argument goes both ways: Should the government force something on those whose religious beliefs are morally juxtaposed to it, or should we look at the bigger picture and say he we can avoid more people on public assistance?

Others argue that the debate is about more than sex, its about health. I for one know of lots of ladies who are on birth control for more than contraceptive purposes: acne, cramps, emotional instability... the reasons run the gamut. The point: should insurance companies be required to cover the cost of birth control?  This is not about morals, family values, or even religious beliefs, its about whether the government can force private companies to  pay for something--simply put its not a religious debate, its a political one with a religious opinion.

So, how do you feel? Should insurance companies be required to cover contraception? ~The Illegal Blonde