Crucifixes, Not Condoms

[unhappycamper]

http://watchingamerica.com/News/242850/crucifixes-not-condoms/

In the battle against Obamacare, conservatives have won an important Supreme Court battle. In spite of that, they are losing the war.

Crucifixes, Not Condoms
die Tageszeitung, Germany
By Konrad Ege
Translated By Ron Argentati
20 July 2014
Edited by Gillian Palmer

Religious freedom is a complex issue in a nation where it isn't unusual to see people say grace before eating lunch in a restaurant. Increasingly, the revered principle that people have a right to their own religious beliefs — free of interference by the government — is being interpreted anew by conservative Christians. They feel threatened by an increasingly secular society and have begun using the idea of “religious freedom” as a weapon.

Liberal America likes to think of justice as neutral and benevolent; didn't the Supreme Court hand down decisions in the 1960s outlawing racial segregation? But recently, the courts have become a sanctuary for conservatives on the issue of religious rights. The following decision was handed down on June 30: In a five-to-four vote, the Supreme Court decided that certain corporations, as well as certain individuals, could exempt themselves from certain laws.

The concept of a corporation having religious beliefs is an absolute novelty in the annals of jurisprudence. The five deciding judges are all Roman Catholic males and were all appointed by Republican presidents. In the United States, Supreme Court justices have lifetime appointments. What will be next: Baptism and confirmation for corporations with religious beliefs — or better still, confession?

This questionable legal decision is the result of a requirement in the Affordable Care Act, popularly called Obamacare, for companies to pay for a wide range of contraceptive services and devices in their employee insurance programs. Churches are exempted, and the insurance plans cover their costs. The case will go down in the history books as “the Hobby Lobby decision.”

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. There's (almost) nothing I despise more than someone hiding their political ideology

behind religion.

Hate for LGBT, women, even humanitarian efforts... ALL hiding under the guise of religion.

Family values my ass.