Sanctum Santorum

February 12, 2012February 12, 2012 / josephpatrickrichards / Leave a comment

12 February 2012: DC Exile Day 19

A couple of days ago, I discussed the new no-cost birth control mandate. I just read an update from Reuters that President Obama is sticking by his decision despite continued ~~whining~~ outcry from Catholic bishops and Republicans.

According to the article, Rick Santorum (I’m sure you’ve heard of him by now), responded to Obama’s decision by saying,

They’re forcing religious organizations, either directly or indirectly, to pay for something that they find is a deeply morally wrong thing and this is not what the government should be doing.

Not that logic is ever part of the equation when it comes to debates like this, but the problem is not that religious organizations must pay for something – the problem is that religious organizations and Santorum consider birth control (especially affordable/free birth control) a “deeply morally wrong thing.”

He’s such a pill.

Catholischism

February 10, 2012 / josephpatrickrichards / 1 Comment

10 February 2012: DC Exile Day 17

Let’s get caught up on some news from the past week.

Big Miracle

On Thursday, GF and I went to see the new film, Big Miracle. The film stars John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore and Kristen Bell. The film’s plot revolves around three whales trapped under ice (much like James Hetfield was) off the coast of Alaska. It takes a daring young reporter, a fiery unstoppable Greenpeace activist and a host of other characters to deal with rescuing these adorable gray whales. The film had two highlights for me. The first involved seeing a Russian tanker (that’s a type of ship for you nautical newbies). Ever since I was in elementary school I had a passive fascination with Russia. It is one place on earth that has a magical, sexy allure for me. When I was a kid, I would stand in the shower (taking a shower) and point my pointer finger in the air. My pointer finger was crooked toward the right (east if you’re facing north) and I always said aloud to myself (quietly and in what I thought was a Russian accent), “Yes. It points to Mother Russia.”

The second highlight of the film was seeing the Russian ship crew taking shots of vodka. I learned that it must be ok to drink and drive if you’re driving a massive piece of metal that is generally in open water. (“Wait, what’s that poking out of the water up ahead? That looks like ice. Nah. It can’t beahhhhhhhh! Cue the violins!”)

Halting the Big Miracle

Catholic bishops and leaders have been wrangling with President Obama regarding the decision that all women should have access to free birth control. President Obama issued a compromise to the mandate that all employers offer no-cost birth control. The coverage from Slate and Mother Jones is helpful in explaining just what the decision means for women working at religiously-affiliated charities, hospitals and schools. NARAL Pro-Choice America calls the decision a “reaffirmation of the commitment to ensuring contraceptive coverage.”

Based on my initial understanding of President Obama’s decision, it seems like a fair compromise and one that will allow all women in the US to benefit from no-cost birth control despite the Catholic bishops’ best attempt to stop women from having access to the full rights of citizens.

Bigoted Miracle

Why do Catholic bishops have any say in the political decisions of this country? The answer should be “they don’t,” but that is sadly not true.

I do not believe that any religious organization should be allowed to open any sort of usually-public institution. Religious organizations should not be allowed to open hospitals, schools, universities, post offices, fire departments or police stations. Religion is inherently a private matter in which private citizens can make private decisions to follow make-believe. (I did it for a large portion of my life.) But those private decisions and beliefs should never get to sway public policy. If Catholic bishops are opposed to birth control – the end. There should be no more to that sentence because it doesn’t matter what comes after their belief as far as public policy is concerned.

Sometimes I feel that we wrongly assume “freedom of religion” is synonymous with and equivalent to “freedom of unchallengeable bigotry.”

Handel’s Pariah

February 7, 2012 / josephpatrickrichards / 1 Comment

7 February 2012: DC Exile Day 14

Earlier this morning, Mother Jones reported that Karen Handel, Vice President of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, resigned her position amid the recent hoopla.

The hoopla, if you haven’t read yet, is about Komen’s decision to stop giving grant money to Planned Parenthood.

The outcry was vast, rapid and uplifting. GF has been working for years to point out the dangers of money and corporations within the breast cancer movement and the hypocrisy of “racing for a cure” while placing pink ribbons on products that are known to cause cancer. (If you’re interested in getting involved in this kind of activism, I’m sure GF would recommend several organizations: Breast Cancer Action, The Breast Cancer Fund, National Women’s Health Network and Women’s Voices for the Earth.)

While I am glad Handel resigned, I find her resignation letter insulting and condescending. At one point she states:

What was a thoughtful and thoroughly reviewed decision – one that would have indeed enabled Komen to deliver even greater community impact – has unfortunately been turned into something about politics. This is entirely untrue. This development should sadden us all greatly.

I believe Komen made the decision about politics when they singled out an abortion provider that also happens to be one of the largest providers of breast cancer screenings for low-income women. And I don’t think the “development” Handel mentions should “sadden us all greatly.” We should have every right and every avenue to call “bull shit” on companies, nonprofits, organizations and leaders who negate their own mission by undermining healthcare for their own political reasons.

I do hope that Komen continues as an organization, but I hope they are forced to take a hard look at how and why they exist.

Heaven can wait

September 29, 2011 / josephpatrickrichards / 1 Comment

29 September 2011

GF and I walked home in the crisp, fall air today. We went to a farmer’s market and GF used her own money to purchase me a barbecue sandwich. I ate it and she had one, big bite.

GF purchased our first pumpkin of the season. She also purchased bread and pulled off a piece to eat as we descended via escalator into the underground Metrorail station.

We popped out on the other side in Virginia and continued a conversation about how depressing humanity is sometimes.

World-class idiots continue to try to undermine healthcare and pursue some ridiculous personal world view at the expense of humans.

I believe religion has no role in politics and government. Politics, government and leading are about listening to the people you serve. Politics is not about a higher power outside of ourselves. It is not about judgement. It is about serving. Doing the best you can for people on this planet now.

Too many religions denigrate and devalue women and many, many other groups of individuals. To have persons ascribing to these beliefs as policymakers is part of the explanation for policies that undermine women and punish anyone different from well-off heterosexual White men.