Church & Contraception

by on February 21, 2012 • No comments

I tend to get fed up with religious institutions usurping my “God” given right to take care of my own body. The fact that more than 2,500 evangelical and ministry leaders of various denominations are “up in arms” and voicing opposition to the administration’s new mandate to require contraceptive coverage in all health insurance plans, only reinforces my fear that our country is slowly being held hostage by religious fanatics. I would bet that the majority of these religious leaders are men.

I honestly cannot understand why contraceptive coverage would be such an issue. It doesn’t have anything to do with religion. It has to do with what a woman feels would be best for her. It’s her individual choice whether she participates. It really is as simple as that. Even though female contraceptives weren’t around when the Old or New Testament was written, for some reason, fundamentalists, of every denomination, start quoting Bible passages stating that “birth control” is a sin against God.

Ironically, the only statement regarding contraception in the Bible relates to Onan, for spilling his seed on the ground rather than having a child with his brother’s widow, Tamar, in accordance with the law of Levirate marriage. So, if we’re to strictly follow the teachings of the Bible, we should execute every man who has ever jacked off and women would be subjected to having to marry their brothers-in-law or other male relatives if their husbands die. After all…that’s what it says in the Bible. Luckily, our society has progressed since then.

For the Catholic Church, contraception isn’t based directly on passages of the Bible. Their argument is supposedly based on what they “interpret” is the purpose for sex. Catholic interpretation is, sex is only for procreation and any contraception that interferes with child bearing…is wrong. While I can’t speak for anyone else, I don’t feel obliged to have my personal life defined by the Church’s interpretation. The Bible says that children are a gift from God. I agree and because they are a gift from God, having a child you don’t want, to me, is a sin. Just look around today and you can see the results of having unwanted children.

In a letter to the President, the religious leaders in opposition to the contraception mandate state that it isn’t necessary nor warranted under the provision of “preventive care services for women” contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and that it essentially ignores the conscience rights of many Catholic and Protestant Americans. Not only that, but it infringes on their religious freedom. I’m not sure how, since no one is being forced to use them. But, if you do want birth control pills, that’s okay as long as you can afford them.

My problem is, the hypocrisy of these religious leaders. These are the same leaders whose religious organizations own and operate numerous medical centers and hospitals around the world that perform a variety of contraceptive procedures…vasectomy’s, tubal ligations and hysterectomy’s. So, why is providing contraception for women such an aberration? I wonder if they would be as upset if they weren’t asked to pay for the insurance coverage?

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