Church-State Group Cheers Rejection of 'Abortion' Bill
Americans United for Separation of Church and State today commended the U.S. Senate for rejecting a religion-based amendment to the health-care reform bill that would have limited women’s access to abortion.
By a 54-45 vote, the Senate tabled the Nelson-Hatch amendment, which would have eliminated abortion coverage from insurance plans that receive federal funds, even if the coverage is paid for with private funds. The proposal, promoted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is similar to a controversial amendment added to the health-care bill in the House at the behest of the church hierarchy.
The Catholic bishops and allied Religious Right forces are lobbying aggressively to enshrine their doctrines about abortion in the health-care reform package.
Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “I am glad the Senate defeated this proposal. Health-care legislation should be based on the needs of the American people, not the doctrines of powerful religious interest groups.
“Women should be free to make decisions about reproductive health based on their own consciences, not the political decrees of church hierarchies,” Lynn continued. “Religious dogma must never be imposed through force of law.”
In a Dec. 7 legislative alert, Americans United urged religious liberty activists to contact their senators and oppose the “unacceptable” amendment introduced by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
Said AU, “We simply cannot allow the interests of a politically powerful religious denomination to undermine the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to Americans of all faiths and none.”
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Americans United for Separation of Church and State has consistently battled to prevent public funds from being used for religious purposes, as it would force tax payers to support a religion other then their own. As an example of this, I cite "Supreme Court Should Reject Discrimination at Schools" in which Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United argued that a Christian club should not receive funding from Hastings College of Law at the University of California in San Francisco saying "This case is about fundamental fairness, if the student religious group wins, it will mean some students will be compelled to support clubs that won’t even admit them as members. That’s just not right.”
I accept his assertion that using public funds to promote a specific religious groups or beliefs is not fair to those who do not follow that belief set.
The principal that one should not be coerced into participating in something that is counter to one's religious beliefs is also evident in the Conscientious Objector exemption found in Military Selective Service Act of 1967, "Nothing contained in this title . . . shall be construed to require any person to be subject to combatant training and service in the armed forces of the United States who, by reason of religious training and belief, is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form."
To summarize, we should not be forced to provide support for, or participate in, activities that go against our religious beliefs.
By reason of religious training and belief, I am conscientiously opposed to abortion . Using tax funds to support abortions coerces me into paying for a practice which goes against my religious training and beliefs.
As such, I call shenanigans on AUSCS's support of a plan that would force me to violate my religious beliefs.
Leaving abortion coverage in the bill means that more Senators are likely to vote against the bill. Hopefully the entire bill will be shot down and we can focus on doing something that is actually sustainable.