The Battle of Birth Control

One of the current hot-button issues facing political activists today is the issue of whether or not all companies should include birth-control in their health care plans even if it directly violates an ethical code or belief. Recently, President Obama made a decision that all organizations must offer contraceptives as a part of their employees insurance plan. This mandate also includes universities and non-profit organizations, even if they are identified as a Catholic organization. This Affordable Care Act, which is a part of the much debated "Obamacare" plan calls for employers to provide a minimum amount of health-care coverage (which includes the obligation to provide contraceptives) or pay a fine.

When the politics are taken out of the issue, we must look at the ethical side of forcing companies to directly ignore their ideologies (i.e. taking contraceptives, which the Catholic Church opposes). Never before has the government made it an obligation of a company to go out and make a purchase that is directly in violation of their conscience.  Some who oppose the new health-care mandate are saying this does not allow a free exercise of religion, that this is yet another example of Obama's "war on religion".

Credit: The Economist

In a case like this, I think it is unethical for the government to mandate any company to go against their idealogies-religious or unreligious. People tread lightly on this issue because the subject of birth control, religion and the government's involvement in religious institutions is such a sensitive subject. But when looked at objectively, one would assume that those who choose to be employed by an organization of any kind, are aware of their values and beliefs. Therefore, if an organization is morally opposed to providing/taking contraceptives, then they too will hold the same beliefs. When assessed that way, it is not in the government's realm of control to force these companies to provide something that is against their belief as it is probably something that its employees are aware of so comes with the territory. As this subject is debated, it is not only interested to see how the health care reform progresses, and what part it plays in the upcoming election. But for now, it can be considered unethical to put people in direct violation of their beliefs, whether or not religion plays a role.