E.J. Dionne writes:
Some conservative Catholics still insist that the relief from regulation that Obama offered is not enough. I hope they reconsider, especially since the Catholic service providers most affected by the revised rule welcomed it. What bothers liberal Catholics about the arguments advanced by some of our conservative friends is that the Catholic right seems so eager to focus the church’s witness to the world on issues such as abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research and, now, perhaps, contraception that they would effectively, if not necessarily intentionally, relegate the church’s social justice work and teaching to second-class status.
That may be what bothers liberal Catholics, but what should bother progressives is the idea that religious doctrines are being used to attempt to limit women's rights and good public policy. Since the beginning of this controversy, Dionne has been willing to sacrifice women's rights and the progressive value of a government engaged in good policy in order to placate religious demands on a secular government.
If Dionne could find it in himself to say 'yes, accommodate religious concerns about public policy if you can, but if you can't, religion cannot dictate secular public policy,' then he can articulate a coherent progressive position. But he seems unable to say this. Dionne writes:
[W]e’d ask our non-Catholic liberal friends to think about this, too. Many of us agreed that broad contraception coverage was, as a general matter, a good thing, and we shared their concern for women’s rights. But we were troubled that some with whom we usually agree seemed to relish a fight with the church and defined any effort to accommodate its anxieties as “selling out.”
What a load of nonsense. I can not imagine anyone relishing a fight with anyone over rights for women that many believed settled by Griswold v. Connecticut. It is amazing that Dionne is so willing to sacrifice these principles, fundamental progressive principles, and to chastise those willing to stand up for them.
Dionne is willing to break faith with progressive principles when it comes to women's health issues and berates those unwilling to do the same. He writes:
As a young politician put it in 2006, “There are some liberals who dismiss religion in the public square as inherently irrational or intolerant, insisting on a caricature of religious Americans that paints them as fanatical, or thinking that the very word ‘Christian’ describes one’s political opponents, not people of faith.” Barack Obama, who spoke those words, finally figured out that a sensible compromise on contraception was far better than a running cultural and religious war. The administration would do well not to lose track of that guy again.
(Emphasis supplied.) It is amazing that in the face of the escalation of this battle by the Roman Catholic Church and Republicans in their championing of the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, which would:
Amend[] the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary (in the case of individual coverage) without penalty. Declares that such plans are still considered to: (1) be providing the essential health benefits package or preventive health services, (2) be a qualified health plan, and (3) have fulfilled other requirements under PPACA.
Dionne saves his harshest criticism for progressives fighting to maintain progressive values that have been enshrined in our country for 50 years. Yes, the progressives are the bad guys here says Dionne - picking a culture war by insisting that women have rights, and good public policy requires contraceptive care.
Excuse me, but Dionne's words on this matter are truly ridiculous. One hopes Dionne sits out this culture war instigated by religious leaders and Republicans. He's certainly not helping progressives.