Supreme Court Won't Hear Birth Control Case

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: WP/AP

By MARK SHERMAN
The Associated Press
Monday, October 1, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined to enter a church-state dispute over whether some religious organizations can be forced to pay for workers' birth-control health insurance benefits, a growing trend in the states.

The court let stand a New York court ruling upholding a state law that forces religious-based social service agencies to subsidize contraceptives as part of prescription drug coverage they offer employees.

New York is one of 23 states that require employers that offer prescription benefits to employees to cover birth control pills as well, the groups say. The state enacted the Women's Health and Wellness Act in 2002 to require health plans to cover contraception and other services aimed at women, including mammography, cervical cancer screenings and bone density exams.

Catholic Charities and other religious groups argued New York's law violates their First Amendment right to practice their religion because it forces them to violate religious teachings that regard contraception as sinful....

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/01/AR2007100100487.html?hpid=topnews

[Warpy]

1. I'm so sick of Catholics crying foul every time they have

to cough up a few bucks for women's health.

They always try to legislate their way out of it, trying to pass laws to enforce a morality that few find particularly Christian and fewer still find sensible at all.

I'm surprised the USSC stayed out of this, 5 Catholic men on the bench and all that, but I'm delighted they let the lower court's ruling stand.

Now if they'll only start making hospitals and pharmacies live up to the same standard: unless you want to advertise your outfit for men only, you need to make full services and medications available to women.

[onehandle]

2. This is a Corporate SCOTUS.

You'll find that they'll often pass on "trivial matters" such as this.

But when Conglomo needs regulation "relief", they'll fall in line to make the rich richer.

[Warpy]

14. In that case, it's more surprising

that they failed to protect the Catholic cash cow, their health care industry, from having to spend a few bucks on the reproductive health of half its population of clients.

[Joanne98]

21. EXACTLY!

[rodeodance]

3. these org. should opt out of the health care busines

[MADem]

4. The Supremes kept their ten foot poles handy in making that call, too. NT

[Dr.Phool]

5. They'll need longer poles in about an hour.

That's about the time Bill Donahoe from the Catholic League will erupt.

[bunkerbuster1]

7. And the Corporate Media will dutifully report this as being representative of all Catholics

or, even, a majority.

When his wretched Catholic League claims something like a couple hundred thousand members... out of tens of millions of American Catholics.

Pisses me off to no end.

[MissMillie]

6. I don't suppose said organizations are balking about paying for Viagra

After all, if it doesn't get stiff anymore, isn't that God's will too?

[bunkerbuster1]

8. If they didn't support Viagra on demand...

however could they keep their double standard alive?

[MissMillie]

10. my point exactly

:hi:

[bunkerbuster1]

9. bok-bok-bok AHH!!!

Whatsamatta, Scalito? Chicken?

Gonna leave it to the court after a WOMAN PRESIDENT gets to appoint some new justices?

I'm lovin' it!

[depakid]

12. No, they're just waiting for the right case to overrule Griswold

This one isn't it- but you can trust that they'll find one. It'll likely be start from the abortion context.

[bunkerbuster1]

18. I don't doubt that.

Sometimes I just like to make fun of these sexist asswipes. I figure at least one or two of their biggest fans are lurking here at any given time.

[napi21]

11. Well, they could just go totally true to their Catholic faith and

stop offering health insurance to ALL their employees! :sarcasm:

Let's see, NY has the Death Penalty, but I don't hear this crowd demanding a credit on their taxes because they don't want to pay for THAT. All States allow employers to schedule their employees to work on Sundays too. That's actually against the Catholic beliefs too.

When are thee people going to recognize that the laws don't FORCE anyone to take BC pills, or have abortions, but leave it up to the individual to make that choice. If the Church did a better job of convincing their congregation that their teachings were right, they wouldn't have to worry about paying for any of that because no Catholic would consider using them.

[sabbat hunter]

13. it wasnt just catholic charities

but they were the biggest one. But I wouldn't go slamming the catholic faith over this as numerous religions were part of the court case..


Of course these places could now just drop prescription drug coverage altogether........

[Ilsa]

15. Then we can hear the men screaming about getting their viagra paid for! nt

[napi21]

19. Sorry. I didn't mean to pick on the Catholics, but I sort of have the

right to do that since I've been a Catholic all my life. I'm sure a lot of other churches joined them in this suit. It just bugs me that they feel they can be special and not pay for things they don't like! There are a lot of things I don't like the Gov't spending my $$ on...like Iraq, Bi Child Left Behind, imprisoning people for smoking a little pot, expanding the Defence spending.... I could generate a LONG list, but all MY complaints don't seem to matter.

[sabbat hunter]

20. I am not Catholic

but I think we should slam all the people involved in this equally!

[Marrah_G]

16. Birth control is used for other things also

I would love to see my daughter be denied them over someone else's religious beliefs. She takes it to control very large ovarian cysts that could leave her sterile.

I am not one for suing, but this I would go to court over.

[uppityperson]

17. Good. Churches have to follow the law also. And good for SCOTUS for turning this down.

I am glad that they did turn it down, rather surprised that they would not get into Church rules all stuff. Good for them.