I write to express dismay with the current health care plan (“Obamacare”), which plans to enforce the coverage of abortion-causing drugs and other forms of contraception by this August. I’m opposed to the infringement upon our conscience and our religions’ liberty.

The intent of this mandate would force our religious institutions to violate our conscience and moral-religious beliefs and practices.

Additional Photos

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius speaks before AARP members at the Sable Oaks Marriott in South Portland. To her left is U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree. 2009 Press Herald file

I urge the people of our state to contact our representatives to enact legislation that would protect religious institutions such as churches, schools and religious service-based organizations from immoral mandates by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Rob Poissant

Gorham

I am disappointed in the recent ruling by HHS requiring carriers of employee insurance to provide coverage for contraception and other so-called “women’s health” concerns. I believe sincerely that all health concerns should be covered by such insurance; however, I am finding it difficult to consider pregnancy a disease, requiring “prevention” as such.

I am fully aware of the beauty of wellness programs and am, in fact, the beneficiary of one. But until now, it seems to me, such programs were meant to treat – and to prevent – illness or medical conditions that require medication. I don’t believe pregnancy falls in that category.

I further believe that opening the requirement in this instance is opening a whole new area of coverage, moving well beyond the definition of “illness.”

Of course, this does not touch upon my other objection, which is based upon the guarantee in our constitution and legal system of freedom of religion and conscience. That I should be required to pay for practices that I consider wrong is another case altogether.

I believe the exception to this rule should be extended to include all religious-affiliated and -run institutions of care in providing insurance for their employees, in accordance with the dictates of their conscience and belief.

Dan Hogan

East Machias

The reaction of Bishop Malone and the Catholic Diocese of Maine to the Obama administration’s new federal guidelines that require nonprofit employers with religious affiliations to cover birth control as part of health insurance benefits is regrettable but predictable. One wonders when the Catholic Church will join this century.

I remember some 30 years ago, while traveling through South America I came across one of Pope John Paul II’s world tour stops in Peru. I was witness to the extreme poverty in this part of the world and was surprised to find him preaching the sins of birth control. Peru was and is a predominantly Catholic country and as was evident by the fanatical crowds, the pope commanded a deep respect and admiration from the people. His words were the words of God. Some God, I thought, that declares it a mortal sin for a woman to want to have a degree of reproductive choice – especially in the third world, where it could help lift women and their children from the depths of poverty.

Here we are 30 years later and the Catholic Church is still stuck with antiquated views that leave a legacy of millions of unwanted pregnancies and associated starvation and despair. We need to understand that most of the world’s problems arise as a result of overpopulation and the consequential depletion of our natural resources and increase in environmental degradation. Our true obligation should be to the preservation of the beautiful planet God has given us. As such, we need to allow women the choice of pregnancy. To deny this is the real sin.

Dana Smith

Brunswick

Federal government should follow the rules it makes

I work for a well-known national baking company that has a production facility in Biddeford. This company has entered into bankruptcy, Chapter 11 for the second time in less than 10 years. The company claims that its labor cost along with cost of funding its employees’ pension funds puts them at a financial disadvantage with their competition.

Oddly, the company’s biggest competition, which is now the nation’s largest baking company, has been very successful despite paying its employees wages, benefits and pension fund contributions that are equal to or greater than my company. Despite the employees going four years with no pay increases and making major concessions, including reduced health benefits, my company chose to shift the blame onto us for their failure. This is shameful.

However, we Americans see every day how the nation’s biggest employer (the U.S. government) has displayed this business model for all corporations to follow. Think about it, the company, in this case, the government of United States of America, is trillions of dollars in debt. This company (U.S. government) continues to pay its executives very well, in addition to a lifelong pension plan with built-in increases and lifelong benefits, all the while telling its employees (us Americans) that we are to blame for the company’s debt and that our retirement plan benefits (Social Security) and our pay is unreasonable so both must be reduced. Theirs, however, will still remain. Really?

Come on America, wake up! How many Americans need to lose their medical coverage, retirement benefits, jobs? Let’s not let the ineffective executives (congressmen and women, senators, governors) continue to look the other way when it comes to their pay and benefits. Give me one good reason why they don’t participate in Social Security, take a cut in pay, decrease benefits – isn’t their company failing too? Don’t they all support Chapter 11, seeing as how they wrote the law?

Is it time to “occupy” the government?

John Jordan

Biddeford

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