We are all better off since we chose to free our beliefs from Government control, particularly we atheists. But I never thought that meant that religions had the right to modify our secular laws, and particularly to have the right to force those of dissimilar opinion to live according their preferred dictates.
The doctor who refused contraceptives to a woman is a case in point. Yes, the doctor has the right to state her personal beliefs on this matter but to refuse to give the pills to someone who does not agree with her?
And as for Hobby Lobby, it seems absurd to me that a profit making company can choose to represent all it’s employees beliefs as if they had, in fact, no freedom of religion whatever while claiming that their business is being discriminated against by a secular law that focuses on a medical insurance program that one would assume is not their business. The only way they can be fined is if they are taking a holier than thou attitude that infers they have the right to force their employees to pay for their own contraceptives irrespective of that employee’s personal beliefs. I contend that freedom of religion does not mean freedom from secular law
As our country grows ever more diverse this creeping process—increment by increment—will became ever more dangerous if we make no attempt to resists this encroachment, especially for those now poorly treated by the standards of their own religion.
Cheers
Andy Mulcahy