Reproductive Rights

[fufaraw]

Originally posted by arliss at Reproductive Rights

Originally posted by moropus at Reproductive Rights

everytime one of these guys gets caught in a morally compromised position, i ask myself why they feel they have the power to make personal choices for me. congress critters seem to have the lowest moral conduct of any group i'm aware of, but expect others to follow a moral code written 4,000 years ago that they themselves do not follow. if they followed the law as written by moses, i might, might, might respect them for that desire to "spread the word," but not to make it law.  but since they don't follow the code of conduct they try to force on others, they have no reason i can understand to do so.

Originally posted by dandelion_diva at Reproductive Rights

Fabulous.

Originally posted by myrrhmade at Reproductive Rights

Originally posted by noodledays at Reproductive Rights

Originally posted by tinylegacies at Reproductive Rights

Originally posted by mountain_hiker at Reproductive Rights

A star-studded cast wants you to sign!

The CAMPAIGN

The Bill of Reproductive Rights is an effort by the Center for Reproductive Rights to deliver a thundering statement—backed by hundreds of thousands of signatures from concerned citizens like you—to the U.S. Congress and the President that they must guarantee and protect reproductive rights as fundamental human rights and stop the attacks by politicians who want to take those rights away.


Draw the line! Sign the Bill of Reproductive Rights!

Comments

[spn-j2fan.livejournal.com]

You are probably going to hate me for this (and everyone else here on lj and apparently in Hollywood), but...I whole heartedly support your reproductive rights. And I support mine. And hers. And his... But... I also support the Catholic Church's right not to fund birth control.

In this country, we have a definite line drawn between church and state. The church can't bring prayer into the schools anymore, even in communities that overewhelmingly want it, and the government can't make demands of a religion. No one forces someone to attend a catholic college. No one forces you to work for a catholic hospital. These are the beliefs of this religion. They believe that you will go to hell if you practice birth control, and forcing them to provide it is wrong.

You can say that birth control is your right, and I will stand on the top of my soap box and AGREE! But I won't agree that your insurer has to provide it. Because then you will have to explain to me why you have more of a right to that than my son has to his $500 a month ADHD medicine that my insurance doesn't cover. I think that is just as important. And I can't get that at the clinic. And it isn't available for $20 at Planned Parenthood!

So yes, you have a RIGHT to contraceptives, abortions and all that entails, but I won't ask the Catholic Church to change their stance until our government changes their stance on their separation of church and state. And I don't want to--the two should remain separate!

And before you ask, I left the Catholic Church over twenty years ago because I disagreed with their stance on birth control, among other things..

[fufaraw]

I'm really glad you spoke up here--and no, I certainly don't hate you!

I agree wholeheartedly that the separation between church and state should be firmly maintained. My concern about that separation definitely includes schools. Unfortunately, local boards comprised of fundamentalist protestants keep making inroads on curriculum all over the country, using public taxes to fund their brand of Christian teachings in public schools. That's one area that upsets me as much as asking the Catholic church to fund insurance payments for birth control, which goes against their beliefs and teachings.

As pharmacy dispensing of prescriptions should not be a career choice of people who believe no-one should use birth control, those who expect their employer to fund their bc prescriptions should seek an employer who does so.

There're always going to be overlaps, and gaps. I still believe secular organizations have no right to force the religious beliefs of individual owners and/or managers on those for whom they contract to provide insurance.

But a religious body is a different thing--the Catholic church has never been less than open about their beliefs and teachings. Anyone seeking employment with them should be prepared to have birth control not covered under any insurance the church-employer provides. That's a decision the employee must make.

Secular employers, though? No excuse.

[spn-j2fan.livejournal.com]

You are going to have to give me examples of these "local boards comprised of fundamentalist protestants that keep making inroads on curriculum all over the country, using public taxes to fund their brand of Christian teachings in public schools." And it is not because I do not believe that it is happening, or that I don't believe in YOU, it is because no words as caustic as these should be laid down without groundwork to support them. And knowing you as I do, I know you have it! ;) And I want to hear it!

And yes, I am in complete agreement. I don't want religion chiming into secular issues any more than I want government meddling into religion. But, and here I add a huge dammit! It goes both ways Mr. President! Take your stance! Be a constitutionalist or don't be. You swore to uphold the constitution! And expecting a religious institution to go against it's fundamental beliefs? I am not okay with that!

And I am pretty sure that a million people on lj will not agree with me. But I do believe in our basic constitutional tenets.

So...on another note.

What are you talking about? Secular organizations trying to force religious beliefs? That is so vague that I can't even comment.

I will end this with an agreement. Secular employees? Yes, no excuse. But, dammit, I guess I'm not so good at agreements. :) Why is birth control a more fundamental right than my son's ADHD medicine? Why is birth control in the limelight? It is because it is an issue that will draw women to the ballots. And that makes me sad.

Just now, I did a twelve second search to see how many kids suffered from ADHD. And I am sure that is a a very rudimentary number considering I spend 12 seconds conducting it. The CDC says that 5.4 million kids between 5 and 17 (my son is 19) have been DIAGNOSED with ADHD in country. I'm just sayin'...

[fufaraw]

Here's the most recent cite about schools--I just read it today, which is why it was at the top of my memory.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2012/10/10/a-perfect-example-of-christian-privilege/

I think the birth control issue is in the forefront of the news because it's just one part of the conscious and deliberate attack on women's rights. I can't help sympathizing with a pink collar worker who can't afford health insurance of any sort, who has the choice of trying to avoid sex--even with a husband--or risk conceiving every month, and having no alternative to carrying every child conceived to term--*if* her access to birth control is limited or prevented.

Women's rights and opportunities are being undermined and circumvented, with access to safe abortion, even in the event of an non-viable fetus, requiring in some states an unnecessary vagina-cam ultrasound, and at least a day's wait before the procedure can be scheduled, having to sit through required "counseling" about what happens to the fetus during the procedure, even if the mother wanted the child, and being forced to listen to a narration of the steps as the procedure is underway. None of that is necessary, or productive. It's punative. And the present mindset of the people in power appears to be that women are too feebleminded to make a decision about their own bodies without superior male intervention and supervision.

Whether one believes in the necessity for and the availability of safe abortion, birth control, and Plan B, or not, humanitarian compassion would suggest less harsh methods.

Combined with lower pay for comparable work, fewer opportunities in fields women are as suited and trainable for as men, and increasing prevalence of, and lack of control over, sexual harrassment and predation, especially in the armed forces, as well as in the domestic workforce, women's issues are a large component of both parties' campaign platforms.

ADHD is a widespread condition (I have ADD/withdrawn, and I passed on ADHD to both my sons, one severely), and the cost of medication should of course be covered under your employee's insurance. I agree with your indignation over that. Who would you like me to bop over the head? *G*

[spn-j2fan.livejournal.com]

Oh, that article makes my stomach churn! It doesn't matter what my personal beliefs are, I have a fundamental responsibility as a citizen to hold up the rights of all citizens according to the constitution. It really is one of the greatest things about this country. And it hurts to see it so severely abused.

I do not, in any way disagree with your statements about women's rights and birth control. Remember, I am a female business owner. I see it everyday. I even chose a name for my daughter that wouldn't alert prospective employers to her gender before she had a chance to garner an interview. :) I only question the timing of these current drives. I do see it as a political move, but that's okay. Everyone in politics has an agenda, I am pretty sure. :)

And I agree that it is a terrible thing for a woman to suffer (and yes, it can be suffering) through an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy. I also despise the fact that it is common amongst the women in lower socioeconomic classes within the Catholic Church. That is where I come from, and I have seen women under thirty with six, seven, even eight children! My nephew, who is currently studying Theology at Notre Dame and at one point actually considered the priesthood, and I had a heated discussion about it. He said, "Why can't they show restraint, I do?" I tried to explain that the poor woman in Guatemala with twelve children doesn't have the right to refuse her husband just because it is "that time of month." It is hard to explain to a middle-class kid who has the best of intentions but no real-world experience.

Now again, I have to go back to the constitution, and say that the church has made their stance clear, and I can't force my beliefs on them. I can only choose not to work there.

I will look to see who to sic you on about the ADHD thing! :)