Controversial Contraceptives

In the U.S. presidential election this autumn, a women’s right to free contraceptives is pitched against the constitutionally protected freedom of religion. Both sides have gone on the offensive, eager for a showdown.

U.S. Catholic bishops threw a collective fit recently when it was revealed that President Obama’s large health care reform law requires that insurance cover pills and other contraceptives.

The bishops claim that this forces them to act against their faith, since the Catholic Church doesn’t sanction the use of contraceptives. The law makes exceptions for people working in churches and parishes, but not for those employed by other religious institutions, such as Catholic universities, hospitals and charities.

Republican politicians saw the opening immediately. After all, Catholics make up a quarter of the American population and have traditionally voted predominantly Democrat. As one man, Republicans looking to challenge Obama for the presidency – Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich – have accused the president of waging a war against religion. Freedom of religion, a cornerstone of the American constitution, is under threat, they argue.

Obama has backed down, at least a little bit. His compromise shifts the responsibility for providing contraceptives from employers to insurance companies. According to polls, a majority of American voters think this is a good arrangement.

That positive reception also goes for Catholic voters. At least on this issue, the bishops are out of step with their flocks. Instead, the Catholic leadership is getting support from Bible-faithful Protestants who have no theological objection against contraceptives.

In the presidential election campaign, the Christian right intends to paint Obama as an enemy of religious freedom. In Congress, Republicans are preparing bills to guarantee that no employers will have to act against their convictions when it comes to contraceptives.

Obama’s strategists make no secret of the fact that they welcome a confrontation that will allow the President to defend free contraceptives as a women’s health issue. It almost looks like the Republicans are handing Obama the female vote.

As the Republicans call their forces to arms, they are careful to point out that they don’t want to deny anyone access to contraceptives. Their only goal is to safeguard the practice of religion. Even though the conflict is not obvious to everyone, they believe that the freedom of religion carries more weight than the right to contraceptives.