Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State - Part 1

Panel 1

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing entitled, "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" on February 16, 2012.

• Category

  News & Politics

[Gearrion]

You need to check you facts. Separation protects religious organizations from government interference and influence as stated in our constitution, not churches.. the last time I check a organization can own any busniess they want.

[kevin chagnot]

the Catholic,Lutheran,Orthodox,Ang­lican,Baptist,Presbyterian,Mor­mon,Pentecostal Churches and Jewish Synogogues are all against Abortion causing Drugs, as a Lutheran i too am against Abortion causing Drugs, well abortion period is what i am against

[Steve Bliss]

Bad analogy or not, you miss the point he was making. Forcing Catholic insurance companies to pay for abortions, etc is forcing them to act inconsistently with their long-held religious convictions. Nobody is being universally denied contraception etc. But forcing someone to act in a way that goes against their deeply held religious convictions denies them their constitutional right to religious liberty.

[CreativeHyperbole]

The bigger reason why Lori's deli analogy was misguided and out of place was that the government isn't forcing religious institutions to get into private businesses in the first place. They are not forced to open schools, hospitals or any other business. The government isn't going into their sanctuaries and telling them to do anything. However, if they wish to get into businesses that makes it necessary to interact with a democracy, then they should follow the rules and spirit of the democracy.

[terriergal]

Besides, Lori is trying to make it really simple for all the Congressmen to understand, hence the ham sandwich references...since they don't seem to understand issues of life and death and morality.

[64AF]

Bishop Lori's pork analogy to contraception is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard. Eating pork does not prevent unwanted pregnancy, nor does it serve as a treatment for ailments for which many doctors prescribe the pill. Embarrassingly absurd argument from an educated man.