Tag: Hobby Lobby

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection

A weekly collection of current news and issues in the church, country, and world.

The debate on the Hobby Lobby decision continues, so here are a few of my own thoughts, followed by some good posts from others to ponder.

1. Much of the outcry against the decision seems to be that an employer could be involved in such a private, personal matter as birth control.  And I agree.  But of course Hobby Lobby didn’t ask to be in that position.  It was the Obama administration that made birth control public policy by requiring employers to pay for it.  As soon as you require someone else to pay, it is no longer a private matter, but a very public matter involving other people.  If you want to keep birth control a private, personal choice, save your money and pay for it yourself.

2. Which brings us to the second point: what is the purpose of insurance? I have life insurance to support my family in case I die unexpectedly.  I have car insurance to cover the costs if I have an unexpected car accident.  I have life insurance to pay the bills if I get an unexpected disease or my health in some other way deteriorates unexpectedly.  The point is that insurance is designed so the many can cover the costs of the few who have the unexpected happen.  So where does this leave birth control?  Good question, because birth control has nothing to do with the unexpected – certainly not in the way of a disease or other health failure.  If you want some form of birth control, save your money and buy it.  Why should you expect your insurance company pay for it?

3. The answer to that last question of course is because there is a large group of people who want sex to be completely free without any possibility of pregnancy, and of course someone else should fit the bill to make sure there is no pregnancy.  But last time I checked, sex without pregnancy was not a Constitutional right.  Again, if you want birth control, pay for it yourself.  Take responsibility for your actions and stop expecting (or demanding) a handout.

4. While I am not necessarily against birth control in general, any birth control that could cause an abortion shouldn’t even be on the market, let alone be mandated in insurance policies.  It would be nice if the current administration would stop trying to shove their pro-abortion views down our throats.

5. Finally, there is the issue of priorities.  The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, not free birth control.  And that is as it should be.

Here are some other helpful takes on the issue:

Was Hobby Lobby All Wrong About Emergency Contraceptives? – Kevin DeYoung

A Simple Solution to Healthcare Woes: Separate Health Insurance from Employment – Leslie Loftis (The Federalist)

A Company Liberals Could Love – Ross Douthat (The New York Times)

Non-hysterical comments welcome….

 

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection

The Supreme Court gave their ruling on the Hobby Lobby case today, ruling by a slim majority in favor of religious freedom.  Here are some helpful posts:

First, a news story: Supreme Court rules ObamaCare provision can’t force some employers to cover contraception – Fox News

Second, a quick summary of the case: What You Should Know About the Contraceptive Mandate Decision – Joe Carter (Acton)

Third, a good summary of some major issues: Hobby Lobby and the Liberty of Conscience – Kevin DeYoung

Finally, an analysis: The Supreme Court Agrees with Hobby Lobby, But Your Neighbor Probably Doesn’t – Trevin Wax

While there is reason to celebrate the decision, it is more than a little disconcerting that four justices and much of the population believes a “right” to free birth control should trump the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

Trevin Wax in his post above also makes a point worth quoting:

Consider this. A generation ago, a person’s religious observance was a public matter, a defining characteristic of one’s identity, while a person’s sexual activity was something private. Today, this situation is reversed. A person’s sexual behavior is now considered a defining characteristic of identity, a public matter to be affirmed (even subsidized) by others, while religious observance is private and personal, relegated to places of worship and not able to infringe upon or impact the public square.

In the midst of this “brave new world” of confused identities and priorities, we as Christians must look to Jesus for our identity.  Serving Him must be our priority.  And no matter what comes, we will find our hope for the future not in rulings or cultural opinions but in the One who reigns over all.

Passion News

On By BrianIn Current Collection

Here is a collection of articles from the past few months related to the current administration’s attempt to force businesses and non-profits to pay for abortion-inducing contraceptives as part of their insurance package.  The last link is a good summary of where we are at.

11/17/12 – Tyndale House Wins Mandate Court Battle – Mickey McClean (World)

11/18/12 – Court Sides with Bible Publisher Challenging Abortion Pill Mandate – Joe Carter (Gospel Coalition)

11/21/12 – Who is Hobby Lobby? – Denny Burk

12/20/12 – Wheaton College Wins Partitial Victory in Religious Liberty Lawsuit – Joe Carter (Gospel Coalition)

12/28/12 – Does Anyone Care What Happens to Hobby Lobby? – Denny Burk

1/7/13 – Courts Issue Contradictory Rulings as Contraceptive Mandate Fines Begin – Melissa Steffan (Christianity Today)

1/8/13 – Why You Should Care About the Hobby Lobby Case – And Be Alarmed – Kevin DeYoung

1/8/13 – Pastor Rick Warren Releases Statement on Hobby Lobby Morning-After Pill Lawsuit – Deseret News

2/1/13 – Obama Administration Tweaks Rules on Contraceptive Coverage – Ted Olsen and Melissa Steffan (Christianity Today)

2/3/13 – The FAQs: Changes to the HHS Contraceptive-Abortifacient Mandate – Joe Carter (Gospel Coalition)