Catholics: The Debate Over Contraceptives
Monday, February 13, 2012

Marteze Harris #161543
Waupun Correctional Institution
Post Office Box 351
Waupun, Wisconsin 53963

There is a big hoopla going on within the conservative party of the Catholic church as well as the Republican field of candidates for president, along with the rest of the conservative pundits over President Obama enacting part of the Affordable Care Act that deals with contraceptives for women.

I usually would not blog about something that deals with religious issues. However, I have to speak my mind on this issue, and I will try to be as concise as possible on this topic. Look, a woman has the right to protect her body not just from unwanted pregnancy but also from untold diseases that could have drastic consequences on her health.

The Catholic church speaks about abstinence from sex as being the best contraceptive. Yet Catholics have come out talking, breaking the code of silence on the fact that priests and nuns are having intercourse with each other, and nuns have been known to have abortions. Catholic priests are being accused daily of sexual assault, so much so that in our state the Catholic diocese is bankrupt.

The Catholic church says nothing about paying for it or their insurance paying for sexually enhancing drugs for men. Isn't that a double standard? To try to dictate how a woman should live or treat her body, yet a man is free to do as he wishes? This is not an attack on the Catholic church nor the First Amendment. It is about equality for all.

Contraceptives are preventive medicines. It saves lives in the abortion rates and diseases. However, you have those on the right trying to make an issue out of everything President Obama does. I will not pretend to know a lot about this issue. I do know enough to know that conservatives will do anything to discredit the president. For those who care about the right of all people, not just the few, then stand up and be heard.

Do not let the Republicans' politicize this issue by saying that it is an attack on the Catholic church or an infringement of the First Amendment rights of the Catholic church. When will men in this society stop needing to be center stage by putting women's rights in the back burner?

Contraceptives cost an average to $600 per month. For most women, that is too expensive. Imploring insurance companies to provide these life-saving measures to women is a small price to pay for our most precious commodity to be safe and live safe: our women!

This is not meant to be a deep and expressive blog. More to the point, here's a public service announcement: Let a woman have the right to choose for herself. Men, conservative men, Catholic bishops, cardinals—whomever, stay out of this. If women are very unhappy with this new law, then let them fight for their own beliefs. Hell has no fury like a woman scorned. Contrary to popular belief, women can handle their own.

Respectfully,
Teze