California Girl
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- Oct 8, 2009
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- #41
His 'mandate' (which, frankly, I believe is unConstitutional anyway).... inhibits Catholics from the 'free exercise thereof' of our faith. That is a First Amendment issue.
The part of the ACA in question isn't unconstitutional. The individual mandate may be, but that's another question.
Regarding the First Amendment, though, actual words are important here, and the First Amendment does not contain language protecting the "free exercise of [someone's] faith." It contains language protecting the free exercise of religion, and that is a more limited range of behavior.
Once again, I ask you to apply a little logic here. Is there any area of life that the Church does not have instructions for you? Does the Church not have teachings regarding military service, conduct in business, ways to treat employees or to behave as an employee, duties of husband to wife, wife to husband, parents to children and children to parents, citizens to the government and vice-versa? And are not ALL of these a requirement of your faith? And so if we take the First Amendment to mean that anything that is a requirement of faith is protected, does it not follow that EVERYTHING is protected by the First Amendment, so that when a religious teaching contradicts any law whatsoever, that law is null and void with respect to believers in that religion?
Would you not agree that this would be an absurd interpretation?
Your opinion is meaningless - it's an opinion.... mine is likewise.... we'll take it to court and see what they say.
Certainly the courts are the final arbiter, but that doesn't make your opinion or mine meaningless. It just means that if the court disagrees with either of us, its view prevails.
I think one might reasonably raise the question that was raised earlier, regarding state laws that require coverage of contraception in employer-provided health insurance, which the Church has so far complied with sans whimper. And yet, thanks to the 14th Amendment, the First Amendment applies to state law, too. Why is the issue only being raised now?
Being a Catholic certainly does impact on one's life. One is required to live one's faith... which I kind of do... most of the time. But God does not demand perfection, only that I try to do the right thing. For me, as an individual, that includes donating my money and my time for those who need help. That is something I do as a matter of course... not just at Christmas... but all year.
This issue is raised now because Obama lied to Cardinal Dolan back when he needed support for his healthcare debacle. He promised the Church that they would not be required to go against their doctrine... he broke that promise. That's why it's an issue now. As Cardinal Dolan said.... 'we didn't ask for this fight, but we are not going to run from it'. If Obama wants to challenge the Church, bring it on. We've fought and won against far tougher opponents. We're still standing... they aren't.