Arguing the Wrong Point on Affordable Care Act

Is the right to breed like rabbits
constitutionally protected?
Sure it is.  So should the right not to.

In the current debate about the Affordable Care Act requirement of providing free contraception in health insurance coverage as part of women’s preventative health care services, the Catholic church and other conservative religious and social groups have skewed the argument as a “separation of church and state” issue.  Interestingly, many of these same groups often breach that wall of separation with impunity when it otherwise suits their purposes.

More to the point though, they’re arguing the wrong point.

Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida, issued a strong letter of rebuke that was shared in diocese churches this past Sunday, asserting that by virtue of the Affordable Care Act, “the president and his secretary for Health and Human Services are willingly and willfully precipitating a constitutional crisis by causing this assault on the freedom of religion at the federal level.”  Requiring church insurance policies to cover contraception is “an assault on the sacred”,  the Bishop claims, adding, “We just wish to be left alone to follow the dictates of our conscience. This is indeed the worst assault on religious freedom by the federal government in a long time.  It cannot be allowed to stand.”

When the Catholic church was “left alone to follow the dictates of (its) conscience,” it protected pedophiles and rapists within its own sanctified walls.  That’s an assault on the sacred.

I believe the Bishop is talking through his mitre  .  The real issue here is that the Catholic church has no faith in its flock to follow their own conscience and the dictates of their faith, and so it angles to limit their constitutional freedoms to health and well being instead.  I have the freedom to gamble, go into strip clubs, drink to an unhealthy degree, and I’m constitutionally protected in my right to say terrible things about other people, but I don’t do those things because my personal convictions guide me otherwise.  Because I value the freedom to make my own choices, I can't in good conscience deny others those same freedoms, even if they choose to behave like the Westboro Baptist church.

Presumably, the truly faithful within the employ of the Catholic church would have no need to utilize the option of free contraception in their health care coverage.  If, on the other hand, others within the church believe as the Poynter Institute’s Roy Peter Clark does,  “that taking the pill or using a condom is not an immoral act, and, in certain contexts is the right thing to do,” then the Church needs to look within itself, on its own side of that suddenly hallowed wall of separation of church and state, to examine the true nature and purpose of its prohibitions on contraception.

The wall of separation often appears to be a portable one – more like a Bob’s Barricade of separation, really – trundled about and erected at the convenience of some of those who use religion to their own ends, crying out against presumed incursions into the practice of their faith, and then shoved further out in an effort to impose those beliefs on everyone else through legislation limiting or prohibiting abortion,  same sex marriage, and access to health care needs like contraceptives.

Choices make us free.

But given the number of abused, neglected and abandoned children in America  where  five children die every day as a result of abuse   and 21% of American children live below the poverty level -  it is a travesty and a true assault on the sacredness of life to suggest health care for all, with free access to contraception,  is anything less than a medical necessity and a basic human right.

Speak out on SOPA & PIPA

The following is censored, in protest of SOPA and PIPA, proposed legislation that gives any corporation and the US government the power to censor the internet–bills that could pass THIS WEEK. To see the uncensored text, and to speak out against internet censorship, visit:http://americancensorship.org/posts/40087/uncensor




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█████ who ███████ the ███████████, who own the █████████ - ███████ and own YOU.


 (Now I'd never compel you to sign anything you didn’t want to sign, so if you just want to know what this says, drop me a line at willinghamster@gmail.com and I’ll tell you – but you get the point – everyone should have access to the knowledge and information they seek…) . 

Still Here! Still Progressive! Still Learning!

I was just informed that this blog had been featured by a group somewhere recently, and I'm ashamed that I've fallen behind on my posting - and on the eve of an election year, no less! Mae Culpe!  My deepest apologies!

It's just that IRL demands have competed for my time this year. Even a Progressive Homeschooler has to meet work deadlines, pay the bills and care for family.  But the fact that PH is still on the radar somewhere has inspired me to freshen things up a bit - so welcome to the new and improved Progressive Autodidact!

It's hard to keep calling myself a Progressive Homeschooler when I'm not doing any homeschooling these days - but I'm certainly still and always learning, so "autodidact" seems to fit the bill quite nicely.  I've also moved most of the civic education and engagement links to their own pages, to clear up the side bar clutter.

And I'd like to invite some guest bloggers to help me keep the progressive home fires burning!  If you've got some social justice or civic engagement news, insights, thoughts or ideas you'd like to share with PA readers, please drop me a line at wilinghamster at gmail.com and pitch your contribution.

In the meantime, all the best to you and yours during this gallimaufry of holidays and peace and good will to all - It never hurts to keep wishing for that!

Photography is not a Crime!

We Are All Florida

“It’s easy to talk about – you know, down at the post office, at the bar – you know, we ought to do this thing,” Florida Senator JD Alexander, R- Lake Wales told his co-legislators in the Senate on Tuesday. “But when you start looking in people’s eyes and understand they are people who live and breathe just like us – I think you all need to think about it very carefully.”

Senator Alexander was talking about Florida’s heatedly debated immigration bill, SB 2040 , that drew immigration groups to Tallahassee by the busload, largely under the leadership of the Florida Immigrant Coalition , with the campaign, “We are Florida.”

Alexander, a citrus grower from Lake Wales originally tasked with leading the bill, came to his change of heart after taking the time to listen to the protesters. “Some members feel some of the lobbying activities are not wonderful, “Alexander told reporters. “Other perhaps are able to understand these are people just like everybody else.”

A watered down version of the bill passed the Senate, and still has to go to the House, but its days may be numbered, thanks to protesters and a Senator who can use his heart as well as his head. Kudos to Senator Alexander for thinking, listening, and taking the time to look in people’s eyes and see that, in fact, We Are All Florida.

Oil'd

Brooklyn-based animator Chris Harmon shows us a numbers-driven infographic animation illustrating the exact scale of the spill by exploring what could’ve been done with the 205,000,000 (that’s million) gallons that poured into the Gulf.

Read more: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/27/gulf-oil-spill-animated-infographic/#ixzz1KlPXNVfp  Click on the link to see the video.

http://vimeo.com/22655744

Find Your Way - A Citizen's Guide to Making a Difference

In just under two weeks, the Slotterbacks successfully led a campaign to stop "fracking,"  a type of gas drilling, in a Pennsylvania Park. Their focused methodology can be applied to a variety of environmental justice efforts. Check out Earth Justice's Citizen's Tip Guide to learn more.