Protestants and Jews who believe that it is an obligation of their religion to practice contraception in order to have no more children than they can be responsible for...who is speaking for them?

From this article:

Religious Liberty...For Bishops

"When I was a seminary student in New York City in 1958, the public hospitals of the city would not distribute contraceptives, though there was no law against it. The politicians didn’t want to upset the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York.

But when a Jewish doctor working in a public hospital tried to fit a diaphragm for a Lutheran woman the hospital administrator told him it was not allowed. In the ensuing controversy the New York City Board of Rabbis issued a statement against the hospital policy. So did the New York Protestant Council. The Diocese of New York fought to keep the policy as it was. After a 4 month fight, the Board of Hospitals agreed to change the policy, meaning that birth control would be allowed in the public hospitals of New York City. There were many fights like that.

But in this current controversy, only one religious voice is being heard despite the fact that, on the 8th of February, 20 representatives of protestant and Jewish groups released a statement supporting the government policy, declaring that:

Our leaders have the responsibility to safeguard individual religious liberty and to help improve the health of women, their children and families. The Administration was correct in requiring institutions that do not have purely sectarian goals to offer comprehensive preventive health care."

More at the link above.

As ardent followers continue to beat the dead horse for the fight "against the war on religion", who is speaking up for all the other religions besides the one that says it's being attacked? Is it right, fair, or legal, that many other religions be required to break the tenets of their faith so as not to upset one that is not actually being asked to violate anything at all, only to allow people to make a choice of their own free will? Is this really a "war on religion" or is it one religion, declaring war on all the others?

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Asked by NotPanicking at 5:07 PM on Feb. 15, 2012 in Religious Debate

238292 Level 46

Answers (39)

"But they're attacking MY religion, and it's the only one that matters!!"

Answer by DusterMommy at 5:10 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
Credits: 22870 Level 25 Religious Debate Minor

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I think the problem lies that only one religion makes contraception or lack there of a religious matter. For everyone else it is just common sense- no religion involved.

Answer by Anonymous at 5:14 PM on Feb. 15, 2012

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how would they be breaking their tenants of faith. They can get contraceptives and other procedures in many places that are not Catholic owned. Catholics are not trying to control anyone elses choices only the right to make our own as a church community.

Answer by Dardenella at 5:15 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
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They can get contraceptives and other procedures in many places that are not Catholic owned

Like their insurance policy...which is not Catholic owned. And the pharmacy...which is not Catholic owned. A hospital is not a church. If it was, it would get the same exemptions the churches get.

Comment by NotPanicking (original poster) at 5:18 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
Credits: 238292 Level 46 Religious Debate Degree
There's no tenet in Judaism to encourage contraception, I don't know where you got that idea. Judaism, actually, discourages the use of contraceptive. As with most issues, though, Jewish Law isn't all or nothing. Oral contraceptives are permitted when pregnancy risks the mother's life or- as is my case- for medical purposes. Contraceptive methods that put a barrier between the man and the woman ate forbidden, such as condoms, and those whose function can be abortive are also not allowed.
So of a Jewish doctor is prevented from providing contraception, it's not going against any Jewish law, quite he contrary.

Sharon

Answer by momto2boys973 at 5:20 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
Credits: 66660 Level 34 Religious Debate Degree

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There's no tenet in Judaism to encourage contraception

Then feel free to message the author of the article and tell him you're right and he's wrong. Considering he's a Professor of Religion and an ordained minister, he probably read up on a few things before he wrote the article, but surely you can point out to him what he missed.

Comment by NotPanicking (original poster) at 5:22 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
Credits: 238292 Level 46 Religious Debate Degree
That's just someone's opinion.

As a Baptist, I have no problems with any contraception that causes egg and sperm to not meet.

I have never forced someone who doesn't share my belief about it to buy my birth control.

Answer by mustbeGRACE at 5:24 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
Credits: 23007 Level 25 Religious Debate Minor

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There's no tenet in Judaism to encourage contraception

Then feel free to message the author of the article and tell him you're right and he's wrong. Considering he's a Professor of Religion and an ordained minister, he probably read up on a few things before he wrote the article, but surely you can point out to him what he missed."

Answer by momto2boys973 at 5:27 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
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I have never forced someone who doesn't share my belief about it to buy my birth control

Nobody else has, either. Your birth control is paid for by one of two places - your checkbook or your insurance company, who is paid with part of your salary.

Comment by NotPanicking (original poster) at 5:27 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
Credits: 238292 Level 46 Religious Debate Degree
There's no tenet in Judaism to encourage contraception

Yes, you keep repeating this. Obviously, he disagrees, as do all the others who were part of that statement in bold that was released on behalf of a coalition of religious organizations, which includes, as the article states, Jewish groups.

Comment by NotPanicking (original poster) at 5:29 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
Credits: 238292 Level 46 Religious Debate Degree