{"id":4138,"date":"2012-02-01T17:20:52","date_gmt":"2012-02-01T22:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/timscogitorium.com\/tinblog\/?p=4138"},"modified":"2012-02-04T07:39:41","modified_gmt":"2012-02-04T12:39:41","slug":"the-mythical-war-on-religion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timscogitorium.com\/tinblog\/2012\/02\/the-mythical-war-on-religion.html","title":{"rendered":"The Mythical War on Religion"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"I<\/a>Religion is under attack in America\u2014at least this is part of the ongoing narrative from the far right.\u00a0 It fits with the themes that Obama in particular and liberals in general are out to destroy the foundational institutions of the country.<\/p>\n

It is in the context of this narrative that Michelle Malkin gets her panties all in a bunch<\/a> over the new Health and Human Services directive that all employers must abide by federal guidelines to include legal contraception as part of their employee medical insurance, including employers such as church run hospitals, schools, and universities. (The churches themselves are still excluded)<\/p>\n

Somehow, this translates to a government mandate that churches have to pay for abortions.\u00a0 Bishop Paul Loverde didn\u2019t mince words when he called the U.S. Department Health and Human Services order \u201ca direct attack against religious liberty.<\/a> This ill-considered policy comprises a truly radical break with the liberties that have underpinned our nation since its founding.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Before I call “bullshit”, let me connect the dots.\u00a0 Since the late 90’s, legal contraception has included Plan B or the morning after pill.\u00a0 If you’re of a mind to view an unimplanted fertilized egg as a baby, then this becomes abortion.\u00a0 So do a lot of other things, but that’s not important right now.\u00a0 Further, strict Catholic doctrine holds that contraceptives of any kind are not allowed.\u00a0 Hence the claim that the HHS directive is an attack on religious liberty.\u00a0 Oh, and the HHS is part of the executive branch of government, so this is an order by Obama, who is evil and out to destroy us, one baby at a time.<\/p>\n

Ok, all together now… “Bullshit!”<\/p>\n

It is this sort of conflation that gives Conservatives the reputation of snake oil salesmen.\u00a0 There are arguments to be had here, but this ain’t one of them.\u00a0 For example, you might reasonably argue:<\/p>\n