Top Half of the First

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or preventing free exercise thereof….. These opening words of the First Amendment are the basis of the phrase “freedom of religion,” a concept to which almost everybody subscribes, but often in different ways. The wording breaks down to two related edicts separated by the word “or.” It’s the latter, “free exercise thereof” with which the amendment is most widely associated.

We’ve been hearing a lot on this subject lately from politicians sympathetic to the concerns of the Catholic Church regarding contraceptive material being included in medical facilities it runs. Opposition to anything remotely resembling birth control in general has always been at the top of its agenda, particularly abortion. On balance I’m “pro choice.” But not without ambivalence or equivocation, take your pick. Of course I’m not a woman.

Regarding the current bone of contention there’s no denying the right of believers, or non believers for that matter, to engage in sexual intercourse as they choose. But it’s asking too much in this country for people of any faith to expect the general population, which includes non Catholics who use these facilities, to adhere to its orthodoxies, particularly on such a personal matter.  

Religion aside, this position is inequitable from a financial perspective. The facilities in question receive help from the federal government to serve the public. It wouldn’t work if even the entire nation were Catholic. 98% of those polled here acknowledged using contraceptives. As Gail Collins wrote in the N.Y. Times “they’ve [the Church] lost the war at home, and they’re now demanding help from the outside.”

Politicians supporting the Church are claiming that its Constitutional rights are being violated. As I see it the shoe is on the other foot. Let’s get back to the first part of the First Amendment preceding the “or.” Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. This sounds as much or more like freedom from religion. Using logic as loose at that to which the right wing avails itself, this could be taken by strict Constitutionalists as time to begin recruiting Atheist missionaries.