This weekend, there unfolded yet another example of interference by the Catholic hierarchy in the political affairs of the United States. This time, the culprit is Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, who is trying to get Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of Sen. Ted Kennedy, to endorse abortion restrictions in the health care bill. Apparently, as early as 2007, Bishop Tobin attempted to intimidate Rep. Kennedy by asking him to refrain from Communion.
My Gut Reaction: Apparently, Tobin and his fellow bishops believe that major political issues in this country should be settled through the distribution of pieces of tasteless, unleavened bread to our politicians.
Analysis: This type of interference in our political system by the bishops has to stop. They have gone from merely expressing opinions to actively trying to push around politicians through religious means. If the Church wants to be such a force in civil society, perhaps it could do us the favor of contributing to said society-through the payment of taxes.
Showing posts with label zealots for zygotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zealots for zygotes. Show all posts
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 09, 2009
The Coathanger Amendment
The 2009 Health Care Reform Bill recently passed by Congress contained a rather interesting rider courtesy of Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak. Rep. Stupak attached and successfully passed an amendment to the bill which bars any form of federal funding for abortion through the health care funds. It would not only bar direct funding for abortion, but also any affordability payment to an insurance company that covers abortion.
My Gut Reaction: The DailyKos was right when they termed this amendment "The Coathanger Amendment."
Analysis: This amendment seeks to limit indirectly the rights of women to obtain abortion, and not simply those who apply to the government for assistance. By denying insurance companies eligibility for affordability funds if they cover abortion, essentially creating an incentive not to cover it.
The potential stakes of this issue become apparent when one reads this account of a woman who had to have an abortion twelve weeks into her pregnancy after the fetus died. Had the fetus not been aborted, she would have faced a serious risk of infection or sepsis. Luckily, her insurance company covered abortion. That might not be the case if the government starts providing incentives for companies to not cover abortion.
What is particularly galling about this legislation is that religious leaders, particularly from the Roman Catholic Church, seem to have played a major role in drafting the amendment. The Suburban Guerilla blog reports that the congressmen who drafted the amendment were in talks with representatives of the Catholic Church. (Yet another reason to revoke the Church's tax exempt status.)
Luckily, there is a movement fighting against this amendment. Forty House Democrats have already pledged to vote against any final bill that contains the amendment. Furthermore, there is an online movement to create a new meaning for the word "Stupak," referring to sepsis generated by back alley abortion. You can vote for this new meaning on the Urban Dictionary by clicking here. You may also wish to do searches on Yahoo! under "sepsis stupak" in an effort to get it on their top ten searches list.
My Gut Reaction: The DailyKos was right when they termed this amendment "The Coathanger Amendment."
Analysis: This amendment seeks to limit indirectly the rights of women to obtain abortion, and not simply those who apply to the government for assistance. By denying insurance companies eligibility for affordability funds if they cover abortion, essentially creating an incentive not to cover it.
The potential stakes of this issue become apparent when one reads this account of a woman who had to have an abortion twelve weeks into her pregnancy after the fetus died. Had the fetus not been aborted, she would have faced a serious risk of infection or sepsis. Luckily, her insurance company covered abortion. That might not be the case if the government starts providing incentives for companies to not cover abortion.
What is particularly galling about this legislation is that religious leaders, particularly from the Roman Catholic Church, seem to have played a major role in drafting the amendment. The Suburban Guerilla blog reports that the congressmen who drafted the amendment were in talks with representatives of the Catholic Church. (Yet another reason to revoke the Church's tax exempt status.)
Luckily, there is a movement fighting against this amendment. Forty House Democrats have already pledged to vote against any final bill that contains the amendment. Furthermore, there is an online movement to create a new meaning for the word "Stupak," referring to sepsis generated by back alley abortion. You can vote for this new meaning on the Urban Dictionary by clicking here. You may also wish to do searches on Yahoo! under "sepsis stupak" in an effort to get it on their top ten searches list.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Randall Terry: God's Gift to the Pro-Choice Movement
Randall Terry, Operation Rescue founder and patron saint of the anti-abortion movement, has done yet another service for us pro-choicers. He is calling for the burning in effigy of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid because he seems to think health care reform is a conspiracy to kill all the babies in America.
The blogger and commenters at the blog linked above are all trying to dissociate themselves and the anti-abortion movement from Terry's actions, but I think he is the movement's perfect mascot. Fanatical, misogynistic, a hypocrite (he promotes family values but is not on speaking terms with many of his children)-he basically sums up all the winning qualities of the anti-abortion movement.
The blogger and commenters at the blog linked above are all trying to dissociate themselves and the anti-abortion movement from Terry's actions, but I think he is the movement's perfect mascot. Fanatical, misogynistic, a hypocrite (he promotes family values but is not on speaking terms with many of his children)-he basically sums up all the winning qualities of the anti-abortion movement.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Dare We Hope...
According to a news posting on the Carnal Nation website, the fanatical anti-abortion organization Operation Rescue may be on its last legs. The organization sent a message to its supporters recently saying that it is severely lacking in funds. The funding shortage may be partially due to the murder of Dr. George Tiller, in which the organization is indirectly implicated.
My Gut Reaction: If it's true, Hallelujah!
Analysis: The Tiller murder has undoubtedly played a major role in the organization's rapid reversal of fortune. The organization had a long history of harrassing Dr. Tiller and clinic workers. Furthermore, Dr. Tiller's probable assassin, Scott Roeder, had been in contact with Operation Rescue policy adviser Cheryl Sullenger, who herself did two years in prison for trying to bomb an abortion clinic.
However, as Chris Hall points out, this was not the only issue facing Operation Rescue. The organization had lost its tax exempt status due to activities during the 2004 presidential campaign.
My Gut Reaction: If it's true, Hallelujah!
Analysis: The Tiller murder has undoubtedly played a major role in the organization's rapid reversal of fortune. The organization had a long history of harrassing Dr. Tiller and clinic workers. Furthermore, Dr. Tiller's probable assassin, Scott Roeder, had been in contact with Operation Rescue policy adviser Cheryl Sullenger, who herself did two years in prison for trying to bomb an abortion clinic.
However, as Chris Hall points out, this was not the only issue facing Operation Rescue. The organization had lost its tax exempt status due to activities during the 2004 presidential campaign.
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