Originally Posted by djplong

Well, we're narrowing it down, anyway

Ok.

The state cannot enforce it's will on *a religion* - again, I agree with you here.

*However* - if a religion is participating in public commerce, well, there are rules that have to be obeyed. A soup kitchen, for example, could not bar blacks or jews from entering.

So, now keep in mind that there already IS an exemption in the Obamacare law for 335,000 (if my numbers were quoted correctly) churches, missions and other places of worship - they don't have to provide insurance plans with contraceptive coverage. That part keeps the government from saying that a priest has to be covered for contraception.

But if I'm working in a hospital (I used to), I shouldn't have to give up my "civil rights" in order to work in such a public enterprise. In fact, I worked at a hospital run by a religiously-affiliated organization (Boston's Beth Israel Hospital). I didn't have to keep kashrut, observe the sabbath or get a circumcision.

So, if Obamacare is the law of the land (please remember, I have other issues with the law), it should apply equally to everyone. If the hospital I worked at was St. Joseph's in Nashua, I should be covered by the law and *not* have the Catholic Church's doctrine enforced upon me. (It would be different if I, for some unknown reason, were actually working FOR the Church - like if they hypothetically wanted me to write websites for them)

On the flip side of this, it is the stated doctrine of the Catholic Church to oppose "pulling the plug". If I'd developed some horrible disease, my wife knows what my wishes are and when to consider ceasing life-support measures. It's easy to see a situation where, if I worked for a Catholic hospital or school, my insurance could be BARRED from allowing my wife to let me die with dignity.

*That*, as you put it, is the fish I'm trying to fry. "Equal Protection Under The Law". The Catholic Church cannot bar minorities from their establishment - there are a whole slew of laws they have to abide by when they open public establishments. This is no different.