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Email a FriendPosted by Connie Clark on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012 4:06 PM (EDT):
Bravo! Thank you for putting it all so beautifully!
What About Me?
One mom questions the state of the state
by Heather Vacca Voccola in News on Wednesday, February 01, 2012 11:59 AM
What about my rights? As a woman? As a Catholic? As a mother? As an American citizen?
What about me?
For the past two weeks, there has been a lot of talk in Catholic circles about the HHS contraception mandate and the March for Life I’ve read countless articles, blog reports and op-eds regarding this divisive decision and the lack of media attention toward the hundreds of thousands of people in Washington.
As a woman and mother with “rights,” I have a few questions of my own:
1. Paying for Immorality
Why does the government get to decide that I should be responsible for paying for other women’s contraception and abortions? I do not use contraception and I will never have an abortion. Why should I have to pay into a health care system that gives away services that I will never use?
2. Faith at Work
Why am I being told life is unfair for people of another faith who work at my institution? It should come as no surprise to anyone who comes to work or attends school at the institution where I am employed that this is a Catholic institution running in accordance with the teachings with the Catholic Church. No one forces someone to work or attend school anywhere. That’s like saying I ought to get a job at an abortion clinic and then sue them for mental duress because they perform abortions there. Really, I think we can more reasonable here.
3. Personal Responsibility
Who gets to define “healthcare”? I prefer to take natural supplements rather than medication. When I choose to go to a naturopath rather than a medical doctor, I am “discriminated against” because my insurance doesn’t pay for this service. If I want to do that, I do my own research, make my appointments, and then pay for that kind of care myself. I don’t complain or expect others to pay in my place.
4. Heath Care Choices
Why do I have to go to a doctor who provides contraception and abortion in the first place? I want to go to a doctor who teaches Natural Family Planning and provides adoption counseling, but none of the providers in my area offer these services. Perhaps I should be crying “discrimination” here too.
5. Parental Rights
When I send my daughters to camp, I have to sign papers allowing them to take allergy medication during my absence. Why then, should anyone expect me to understand that other adults are allowed to provide my children with free contraception and help them access abortion services without my knowledge or consent?
If I am a tax payer in this great country, why do I have to apologize for exercising my rights and for the choices that I make?
—Heather Vacca Voccola writes from Connecticut. She blogs at I Know the Plans I Have for You and works at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Some of her favorite places to spend her time, talent, and energy are Navis Pictures and MWTS: Mission Haiti.
Additional Reading:
- HHS Mandate an Affront to Truth
- Cardinal-Designate Dolan Speaks Out (video)
- March for Life
- Bishops Decry HHS Rule
Comments
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I completely agree with your sentiments but I think #1 is a weak point. As payers into a communal system we all pay for health services we will never use. For example none of my kids have asthma but I am happy to have my share help pay for inhalers. I think a stronger point would be simply that contraception is not health care because what disease does contraception treat? Contraception is a choice. I have to pay for classes for my choice to use NFP other women can pay for their choice to contracept.
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