Emily Stimpson on the HHS ruling:
Most people in the culture are all for religious freedom, but they
simply don’t get how this ruling jeopardizes that. They don’t know or
understand why Catholics have a problem with contraception. All they
know is what the culture tells them—that birth control is a social good,
a basic human right which allows people to have control over their
bodies and their lives.
Catholics know better. We know that many forms of birth control are
actually a danger to women’s health and a threat to human life in the
first days of its existence. We know that all birth control has made it
easier than ever for men to reduce women to objects. We know that it has
obscured people’s understanding of physical intimacy as something
sacred, a life-giving partnership with God. We know that it’s diminished
the dimension of self-gift in the sexual act, while encouraging the
dimension of selfish use. And we know that it’s fanned the flames of
post-modern Manichaeism, encouraging people to think they can do
whatever they want with their bodies, while their souls will remain
untouched.
Contraception is responsible for all that and much, much more. As
faithful Catholics we know that. We believe it. But we don’t often have
the chance to share those beliefs. At least, not in a context where
people are willing to listen, a context where they don’t see the
conversation as a personal condemnation of their own behavior.
We do have that chance now though.
Catholics have a chance to make this moment of crisis a teachable
moment. We have the chance to dispassionately explain to anyone who will
listen—the media, co-workers, or family members—why this is such an
important issue, why it’s a violation of our consciences, and why we
think contraception is in no way a social good.
1/22/2012
Crisis=opportunity
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