I think it appropriate for me to repost words offered here in February 2012, when this issue first bubbled to the surface, in part because of advocating for such an employer religious exemption on the part of Mitch McConnell. It was titled
Consider a few religious beliefs
that could result in denial of health care coverage if the likes of Mitch McConnell got his way
If you got sick from pork - Muslim and Jewish ... perhaps worth noting that the Buddha died when he willing ate bad pork
tobacco related - Mormons, anyone?
alcohol related - a whole host of Protestant religions along with Mormons.
mental health, especially psychiatric - Church of Scientology weighs in here
sick from beef - remember that cows are sacred to Hindus
sick from any kind of animal product - Jains, anyone??
I am sure we can add to the list
Let's come back to alcohol. Muslims in theory do not use alcohol. Many Christians do.
Here I think of when I had an allergic reaction to the heavy sulfites in one bottle of wine. If I worked for a Muslim employer, would my health care plan preclude treatment for an allergic reaction? Would Christians accept having their health care limited by Muslim employers?
I am being silly. Except that I am not.
By the rationale McConnell wants to use, I want to prohibit my taxes from being used to treat military injuries in war - I am a member of a traditional Peace Church, the Quakers - others are Mennonites, Seventh Day Adventists, Amish, Jehovah's Witnesses. If tax dollars cannot be used for something that violates our religion, think how much money we can save on military adventurism, and even on military training -injuries that require medical treatment often occur in training.
And if Mitch and company refuse to grant equal status to my religious complaints, then I would go to federal court on the grounds that favoring one religion over another is a clearly established violation of the 1st Amendment.
Just some crazy thoughts afters a few glasses of retsina.
And I haven't even gotten to the beliefs of the Church of the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster!!!