Letters: Contraception and faith
Re “Deep division persists on birth control,” Jan. 3
Where will it end? Even as wondrous advances in medicine have continually improved our health, various religions have striven to inject their beliefs into doctor-patient relationships.
Faith-based objections have been lodged against inoculations, blood transfusions, birth control, abortion, end-of-life treatment and so on. Must every future medical innovation be compelled to run a religious gauntlet? Will every newly concocted religion be permitted to challenge medical procedures long deemed essential and effective?
It’s time the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to keep separate the practice of medicine and the practice of religion.
Gloria Martel
Los Angeles
Women’s health should be a priority of all hospitals, healthcare providers and religious groups. However, this is not the case for the U.S. Catholic bishops and some providers, even though the Catholic Healthcare Assn. supports the Obama administration’s compromise on contraception coverage.
If the conviction that having their insurers provide coverage is at odds with church teaching, then the Little Sisters of the Poor and others should just pay the fines instead of paying lawyers to represent them. It just might cost less.
Lenore Navarro Dowling
Los Angeles
Regardless of their moral beliefs, all American taxpayers are required by law to pay for wars, capital punishment and environmental destruction.
In the last decade, we have all shelled out annually for a lie-based invasion that has killed more than 100,000 people and maimed tens of thousands of our finest youth. We still fund drone attacks that accidentally kill innocents.
Meanwhile, some good people insist that they should not have to pay into any insurance plan that provides birth control (including for medical needs other than ending pregnancies). I respect the religious convictions of these groups and individuals, but when did their right to fund only what they agree with supersede those of every other citizen?
Douglas Green
Sherman Oaks
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