The Obvious Answer: Don't Take Federal Money

Loyola Marymount University in LA

There is a giant brouhaha boiling now about Obama's "War on Christians" - in particular the requirement that Catholic Universities and Hospitals provide Birth Control as part of their health insurance.  Catholics - as a  theology and religious hierarchy; not the laity - are anti-birth control.**

**  I say not the laity since, according to polls, between 70 and 90 % of Catholics use or have used some sort of non-rhythmic contraceptive - ie the Pill, Condoms, IUD, etc..
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There is a simple solution to this - opt out.  Catholic Hospitals and Universities could stop accepting Federal dollars.  But the deal that that Catholics have struck with the government is that they provide a resource without regards to religion.  Notre Dame and St. John's Hospital do NOT discriminate based on religion - and so they are eligible for Federal funds (scholarships, federal loans, grants, medical reimbursement).  With regards to hospitals, this agreement has priced out non-Catholic hospitals in many places.
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All this is fine - that is the deal we have.  But you don't get to change the deal.  Catholic hospitals AGREED to not discriminate hiring due to religion - so you can't now yell foul that you have to provide adequate health insurance due to religious bigotry.
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If you want to change the rules - change all the rules.  Stop getting federal funds, start paying taxes on your land and you can do whatever you want.  I know it pains some in the hierarchy to play fair, but that is freedom from state established religions too.