Over the past few decades, the controversy over birth control and companies providing their workers with contraceptive coverage with their health insurance plan continues to fall under attack. The introduction of the new health insurance policy, under Obamacare, requires women with contraceptive coverage no matter what the corporation’s religious beliefs on the topic. This brings into question the issue of the government treating corporations as equals to individual humans. On March 25, 2014, the Supreme Court will hear two cases over this issue, the two companies presenting the case and fighting against having to provide their employees with this health coverage are Conestoga Wood Specialties and Hobby Lobby.
The Obama Administration is fighting hard to be able to provide all workers with this constitutional right because they believe that a corporation has no right to enforce their own religious beliefs onto their own employees. Thanks to the United States Constitution clearly stating the separation of church and state, this will most likely put to the issue to rest.
The New York Times reported on the issue stating, “The Justice Department has relegated to a footnote what may be the strongest single argument against allowing the two companies to deny their workers contraceptive coverage that they would otherwise be entitled to under the health care law. That would be the Constitution’s establishment clause enforcing the separation of church and state and barring government from favoring one religion over another or nonbelievers” (New York Times, A Missing Argument on Contraceptives).
Some say a woman should have the right to decide and choose what she wants to do with her body. The reason being that no corporation should have the right to say how or what a person may choose to do with their own body. This includes forcing their own religious beliefs on their employees’ when, within our country, we have the freedom of choice of religion, and are exempt from discrimination for it. It is important to stand up for our rights as humans to have freedom over how we live our lives and what we choose to do with our minds and bodies. The courts generally respect the separation of church and state, so it would be likely that the lobbying companies will be able to surpass their proposal. Keep watch for more information on the topic in coming weeks, and remember the date: March 25th. Speak up, and speak out for what you believe is right, and for the right of your body.