Douthat "Half-Right" Watch

Douthat "Half-Right" Watch by MSW.  MGB: The freedom of religion is not absolute.  Indeed, current constitutional law states that as an employer in dealing with some areas, the Church has not special rights at all.  In the matter of contraceptive mandates, until the draft policy was released, the Church as employer had no protection from having contraception paid for in its insurance policies that include preventative health care - and have not since the EEOC said they didn't in December 2000.  All attempts to ignore this fact won't make it go away.  It is further, rather ingracious of the Church to criticize an effort to increase their protections when the status quo is no protection at all.  On the contraceptive coverage issue, it is not some liberal activist in the Office of the Secretary that is coming up the requirement that women's health be included in basic care, but the Preventative Care Task Force of the Institutes of Medicine.  The bishops should be a bit more grateful that Secretary Sebelius gave them the accomodation she did.  If she stood on current law, all insurance provided to Church employees (even at the parish level) would include this coverage.  The only change in the ACA was the removal of copays.  Be honest about the facts of the issue, even if they eviscerate your point.