Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been facing tough questions as he testifies before Congress this week. Although the hearings have covered a wide range of topics, his views on religious liberty and reproductive rights have been under the microscope especially.
On Thursday, Kavanaugh was asked to comment on Priests for Life et al. v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, a case involving a religious group that refused to pay for birth control to be used by employees. He had previously written that religious groups should not be forced to provide medications that run against their faith beliefs. During his testimony, Kavanaugh reaffirmed this view, explaining:
"Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the question was first was this a substantial burden on their religious exercise, and it seemed to me quite clearly it was. It was a technical matter of filling out a form in that case, but they said filling out a form would make them complicit in the provision of the abortion-inducing drugs they were, as a religious manner, objected to."
Critics Respond
Reacting to the testimony, reproductive rights groups took issue with the term "abortion-inducing drugs", insisting that it's a misnomer intended to spark alarm in religious circles. They argue that the contraceptive drugs in question simply prevent pregnancies - they don't terminate them. Pro-choice group NARAL issued a sharp response on Twitter:
What About Roe v. Wade?
Should Kavanaugh be confirmed, it would certainly make for a more conservative-leaning Supreme Court. And after his comments on birth control, pro-choice activists are becoming increasingly worried that this new court might side with religious groups and move to roll back reproductive rights. Their biggest concern: the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade.
But don't celebrate too soon, pro-life advocates. Kavanaugh has made a point of calling the landmark abortion ruling an "important precedent" that has been "reaffirmed many times" - leaving experts to speculate that an overturn of Roe v. Wade is unlikely.
For now, anyway.
[Update 9/17]: In a shocking turn of events that may quash his Supreme Court bid, Judge Kavanaugh has been publicly accused of committing sexual assault as a teenager. His accuser is Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor who came forward in an exclusive interview with the Washington Post over the weekend. Kavanaugh has flatly denied the allegations, setting the stage for a high-profile Senate hearing to investigate the matter.
181 comments
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flugo
This guy is much needed on the Land's highest Court. Too bleeding-heart, soppy and liberal tendencies saturate this good old USA!
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Rev. M. Dash
You may be right as I don’t think we need to pay for Viagra or any other so-called virile drugs or surgeries to correct these so-called disorders! Maybe we need to keep out of people’s bedrooms altogether as an invasion of privacy. You can’t get it up? That’s your problem. You can’t have children? Your problem. Why should I have to pay for your problems? Why should I have to pay for fertility drugs and the children who may suffer due to poor genes?
Let’s take it step further: all of you sinners who are having sexual relations with your close relatives producing children with medical anomalies—if you’re in healthcare you know what I mean and how it’s at it’s highest level—should not be covered by healthcare as their a product of sin! Why should I pay for the medical and neurological problems of these children?
Why should I have to pay the costs of a woman wanting children? Do you know how these are impacting the healthcare costs?
Why are you too not playing God? If God wanted you to have children.... why am I paying for men to have an enjoyable sex life?
b0blf: You just may have an ??
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Rev. Rene
And then to think I was going to write a decent and thoughtful commentary. Once upon a time when the earth was young cavemen would feed their wives and children and maybe their tribe. Wait, that was socialism? Yes, it was, one or more providers working to take care of the common good, everyone was somewhat safe and somewhat fed and somewhat sheltered. But, now we live in this North-American society, where the word "Socialism" is getting equated with"communism" (NOT TRUE) and God forbid we should have to pay for something our neighbor needs, especially if that person has an alternate belief! Off with their heads!!! Really, this is how it should work, folks, in a modern caring society, all of us looking after some of us when needed!!! I could say it is the Christian thing to do, but I think it should be beyond that, it is the "Decent" thing to do! And some of us need birth control, maybe for our health, which could be threatened by a pregnancy! Do you know for sure, can you tell?
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Carl Elfstrom
When did Christians or Christianity,as a whole, become decent. I would never confuse a decent thing to do with what Christians do. Since they feel guilty about everything they do anyway, we should rub it in and make them pay for everything.
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Lori
Rev Dash...You talk up a storm about sinners, as if you're not one. It must be wonderful to be right up there with Jesus. We were good Christians and still had one of those children with neurological problems. Without contraception there would be many more of them. I was told by a "good Christian" woman, like you, that my child was born the way he was because we did something sinful. She just labeled him a product of sin because she felt she had the right, since she was so "good". She was sick in the head. Needless to say I am no longer a Christian. People like you are sick in the head. Somehow, I don't believe Jesus would talk the way you do. I do believe his mission was one of love and mercy. As I have said many times before on these blogs, Bible thumpers push people away. You see yourself as the righteous word of God. That kind of ego is SINFUL.
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Rev. M. Dash
To Ben and Lori, my response is a sarcastic reply to b0blf!!! It has to do with how extreme that thought pattern and outlook can spin out of control, if we let it. It leads to self pity and finding content in judgment as opposed to elevating those less fortunate than yourself!
I have 2 children with neurological deficits: one acquired during a car accident (she 3 yrs old was in sleeping in my arms pre-seat belt days, the door of the car flew open we both were thrown out of the car in a car accident and the car passed over her) and the other due to my illness in a subsequent during the pregnancy.
I believe we are all challenged in life—everyday—how we meet those challenges speaks to our character. You can dwell in sorrows or elevate yourself to moving forward. It’s difficult to get out of mud, but once you start you will get momentum to move forward. When you pick up others and give them help, it becomes like a locomotive pulling together to advance and becomes easier for all as you move forward.
When you dwell on looking at each other you won’t go far. If you all turn in the same direction you move forward at a faster pace and soon no one has to be left behind because you will each have your own momentum.
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Lori
Sorry I miss-understood your wording. I agree with not dwelling on sorrows. I also don't care for those crazy people who create such a negative world while thinking they are walking on water. Again, you caught me of guard. Blessed be.
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Ben
Rev M Dash you call yourself a Christian minister? I doubt your Christ would agree. Didn't he preach charity and taking care of others? The hypocrisy of "good Christians" is terrifying. My Gods disagree with your preaching.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
Rev Dash. you present a good argument to those who want to discriminate against women's healthcare, including the right to choose. I got your message, unfortunately, for some here it went right over their heads. As a nation, we either cover ALL conditions or none at all, including elimination of coverage for infertility, and erectile dysfunction.
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Minister Carey
Yes!
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Rev. M. Dash
Thank you.
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Ben
So more it be.
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Norma Battes
Rev M Dash September 7, 2018 at 3:53 pm " ...why am I paying for men to have an enjoyable sex life? "
Just because your wife doesn't have an enjoyable sex life why condemn others to the same fate?
Seriously though, if we(WE) as a society do not look after each other then, why should we(I) pay for the cavities in your kids teeth? Or the dents in your car? If your faith, Reverend(!), is every-man-for-himself, then so be it and you can lead with your self-righteousness and cancel your life insurance, your healthcare, your automobile warranties and for that matter, your savings account! You want money, make it yourself and quit relying on us to line your pockets with dividends and interest. Reverend.
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Rev. M. Dash
To Norma Battes: some got this, you did not! It was in response to b0blf— you must read this he original post. Those who did understand my retort.
And, since you seem to care: I pay my own way, including $783 a month for medical not including dental for just me. My auto insurance is $498 a month!
I work as a medical researcher and have seen it all. I have held the bodies of countless children passing away from HIV whose parents pre-deceased them. The reason for the “Rev” is because most places won’t permit a non relative to do this! I can as spiritual advisor.
What have you done for mankind lately? Or, your community?
Please follow the content instead of attacking—that becomes trolling!
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Norma Battes
Rev M Dash September 20, 2018 at 5:08 am " Please follow the content instead of attacking—that becomes trolling! "
I did, reading b0blf and your post more than once. And please note, "You may be right as I don’t think we need to pay..." was your lead-in statement. Your sarcasm is much too subtle. May I suggest /s/ in the future that you may not mislead your readers.
"gerund or present participle: trolling make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post with the ??? ?? ????????? ??????? ?? ????????? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ????."
My response to your post began with a joke. I clarified that by the follow-up paragraph with "Seriously though...." I then lead into my level of sarcasm starting with, "...if we(WE) as a society do not look after each other..." which made quite clear I feel, what my beliefs about community are. If you felt I was baiting you in some way, my apologies as provoking you into anger was not my intention. By definition I also feel b0blf isn't trolling either.
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Laura Rivero-Fisher
This good old USA's roots are based on murder. Genocide of the Indigenous nations and slavery is at the core of how we have become who we are today as a Nation. My God and Universe is loving and always for humankind and all species on our beautiful earth. Women must have reproductive rights. We are the caregivers, we feed our families, we care for our elders. Christ consciousness guides me. With love and light, Elder Laura
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Jim
No different from any other nation on earth.....
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Rev. M. Dash
Amen. Drop the ?
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Carl Elfstrom
You're confusing murder with war, and the Indians lost, so deal with it. And Americans weren't the ones doing the scalping. Talk about heinous acts.
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Carrie
Since scalping was introduced by the Dutch as proof of bounty, I would have to say that no, it wasn't introduced by "Americans", it was introduced by Europeans. Study, learn. It wasn't war, it was genocide.
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Ben
Cary's right Carl. Your just a troll.
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Milt Rudy
Women must be able to make decisions about their own bodies. What about viable fetuses? Shouldn't they have a say in their struggle to survive?
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Ben
Milt - No. Mother's body - mother's choice.
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Iconoclast
Mother's choice to pay for it. If it is HER choice and I have no say in it, then I certainly should not have to pay for it.
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Ben
b0blf you must be a Republican Christian? Am I right? I bet you support those 300+ priests that raped over a 1000 children, in Pennsylvania too? Trump and his supporters should all be sent to Antarctica, so that the rest so they can spout their evil rhetoric all they want, and the rest of us don't have to hear it or live with the consequences.
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Rev. M. Dash
No. I’m a Feminist Independent who practices Buddhist Tenets.
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Ben
I was addressing b0blf .
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Rev. M. Dash
?
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John Owens
Do you even know what you are talking about?
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Ben
John Owen's Should I use one syllable words so you can understand better?
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Iconoclast
Maybe you should so YOU can understand yourself, Ben. Nothing you said in the comment above makes any sense, nor does any of it appear to have any actual reasoning behind it, nor does it appear that you even WANT for it to sound credible.
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flugo
Ben: Your illiterate, nonsensical diatribe was as successful as a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest!
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flugo
Ben: Do you even know what you are talking about?
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Ben
John - Well, I'm speaking in college educated English. Perhaps you have the comprehension issue.
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Iconoclast
"b0blf you must be a Republican Christian? Am I right? I bet you support those 300+ priests that raped over a 1000 children, in Pennsylvania too? Trump and his supporters should all be sent to Antarctica, so that the rest so they can spout their evil rhetoric all they want, and the rest of us don’t have to hear it or live with the consequences."
This is the rambling "college educated English" rant you wrote, about which I asked you. You named several totally unrelated things, that have nothing whatsoever to do with the subject at hand, or one another.
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Jim
Yea Ben that sounds like a true American. Freedom of speech. OH wait a minute you don't agree with someone so maybe its you that should leave the country.. I know a lot of actors said they would leave if Trump got elected but dame they are still here, wonder why. This is America you have the right to your opinion and if you don't like the opinion don't listen. Your comment Ben about Republican Christians supporting the 300+ priests raping children. Wonder how many of them voted for Hillary. I'll bet most if not all, after all their hero was probably Bill Clinton. In reality your comment shows your inability to hold a honest and open debate.
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Ben
John Owens & Jim - Let me spell this out for you. Since you both are obviously confused. Republican Christians are notoriously: anti-abortion, anti-women's rights, anti-gay rights and pro-rapists rights. Right wingers are Republican Christians, so odds are those 300+ priests were most likely not Hillary voters. Trump supporters want a wall. One that Trump PROMISED that Mexico would pay for. I don't want a wall. I want Trump and all his supporters sent to Antarctica. Then I won't need to hear your inane, hill billy ranting anymore.
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Jim
Hey Ben Let me spell this out for YOU. This country was founded on Christian beliefs. Many will say that this is not true but the fact that throughout our history GOD has been used by our leaders in speeches, put on our money, used in the pledge of allegiance and even in our courts and in oaths to office. I would say there is no difference between a Reb Christian or a Dem Christian so to try and separate them as well as saying that they are pro-rapist shows just how ignorant and down right stupid you really are. If in fact as you say you are COLLEGE educated I must assume it was a correspondence college over the internet just like this ordained ministry is. For all you do is spout the normal left wing CNN BS. I think that most people could give a rats ass if someone is gay or not. I don't care what people do in their own homes it is none of my business. But I have a right to disagree with their lifestyle. Just as I would someone who uses drugs, has sex with animals, has more than one wife, lives with more than one partner etc. I DONT CARE what other people do in the privacy of their homes. I think that most people Dem or Reb do either. I just got back from Europe and they are having major issues with immigrants as well. They to are talking about more border control but you and other left wing idiots would rather see the country go down the tubs then to have control of the border. My wife is from another country but we did things legally to get her citizenship. I have two grand-daughters and two daughters and trust me there is no one who cares about their rights more than I. Everyone I know feels the same on both sides of the isle. This is the garbage that left wing folks want others to believe. The fact is that the left does not want to control immigration because most Approx 80% will vote Democratic and they know it. This gives them a large voting block. The left want Government to control your life by giving you the basics much like throughout history but people like you are to stupid and blind to see the truth. Accept responsibility for yourself and your own actions is what most as you call them right wingers want not government handouts. Live your life as you see fit but leave me to live as I see fit and if I don't agree with and you don't agree with me then we need to agree to disagree and leave it at that. So if you do not believe in freedom of speech and the freedom to live your life as you want which it appears to me you do not then you need to go to Antarctica. Oh and yes I do consider myself to be a hillbilly. I guess that makes you a city licker.
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John Owens
Benny,
Your little statements here are full of ignorance and falsehood, so I'm going to educate you, one point at a time:
A) "John Owens & Jim – Let me spell this out for you. Since you both are obviously confused." Wrong. You cannot spell better than us and neither of us is confused. it is you who is confused, so THAT was two lies.
B) "Republican Christians are notoriously: anti-abortion, anti-women’s rights, anti-gay rights and pro-rapists rights." We are not "notoriously" anything. We (most) DO believe in birth control, but think abortion is not an acceptable form of it.
We whole-heartedly support women's rights, even though you say we don't because we do not whole-heartedly support the slaughter of the unborn MANY OF WHOM ARE FEMALE. Other than that, we fully support women's rights-- right to vote, right to drive, right to carry a handgun, right to privacy, right to free speech, right to work, right to own property, the whole nine yards, so THAT was a lie.
We do not try to oppress gay people or remove any of their civil rights shared by the rest of us, and we think rapists should be physically castrated or put to death, so THAT was a lie..
C) "Right wingers are Republican Christians, so odds are those 300+ priests were most likely not Hillary voters." This is a particularly stupid and uninformed assumption on your part, since pedophiles AND priests overwhelmingly identify as Democrats. Besides that, just because they didn't vote for Hillary (anyone with any sense would NOT), does not mean they voted for anyone else, so "odds are" THAT was a lie.
D)"Trump supporters want a wall. One that Trump PROMISED that Mexico would pay for. I don’t want a wall. I want Trump and all his supporters sent to Antarctica." The Antarcticans did not elect Trump as their president, and his supporters did not all lie and say they would leave if he was elected.
E)"Then I won’t need to hear your inane, hill billy ranting anymore." No hillbillies on here, and you apparently don't understand the meaning of "inane" OR hillbilly (which is one word). Also, I cannot speak for Jim, but if you would stop saying stupid things, I would stop telling you how stupid they are, and Jim probably would.
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Jeri
Thank God for bleeding heart, soppy, liberals! As a woman, I don’t want hard fought liberties threatened or taken away by “this guy.”
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Ben
Jeri it should be unlawful to have laws to control women's bodies, but then again, Judeo-Christianity is all about the subjugation of women.
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Rev. Rene
It is a mixed bag, the rich go elsewhere, the rest get stuck with these backward 1950's laws made up by the old white guys in DC. Any law should ideally be able to be for everybody, equally. This anti-abortion law is not, never was. If the daughter of the 1% gets pregnant, they traditionally go to Switzerland to go "skieing". What an awful hypocrisy!
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John Owens
BS
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Ben
Prove me wrong. Women must obey men. They can't hold any positions of power with the church. They have no say over their own bodies. It goes on and on.
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Iconoclast
They have plenty of say-so over their own bodies in the USA, Ben. All they have to do is stop banging losers without condoms and all of this will go away.
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Carl Elfstrom
Don't forget that it was a republican named Lincoln who wrote the Emancipation Proclamation and freed the slaves. Also, before Donald Trump claimed to be a Republican he claimed to be a democrat. And as much as he lies, he probably still is one, in disguise.
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Ben
Carl we all know that neither political prty is anything like it used to be. Try I stay in modern times. As for Trump he's really neither party. He's outout for himself, but is closest too the Nazi party.
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John Owens
Please illustrate one valid comparison between Trump and the Nazi party.
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Ben
Hitler asserted the Führerprinzip ("Leader principle"). The principle relied on absolute obedience of all subordinates to their superiors. Hitler viewed the party structure and later the government structure as a pyramid, with himself—the infallible leader—at the apex.
Hitler firmly believed that the force of "will" was decisive in determining the political course for a nation and rationalized his actions accordingly.
So does trump.
Hitler and trump are also both white supremacists.
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Iconoclast
Okay, the first paragraph has nothing to do with Donald Trump, and everything to do with any bureaucracy on the planet. The second is true of everyone. The third is a big, bald-faced lie.
Nazis were socialists. Nazis advocated violent civil disobedience to alter discourse. Nazis were anti-Semitic.
The three I mentioned sound more like you than Trump.
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Valerie Ward
As soon as all these 'christian' MEN step up to the plate and take care of all these unfortunate children that could have been prevented with a little pill, they can do as they wish. Until then, quit telling women what they can and can not do! Abortions will still go on but it will be back in the ally AGAIN. Corporations can get any type of insurance they want to provide to their employees. Doesn't give them the right EVER to tell a person how to use it. I am so over these fanatics trying to 'rule the world' with their self righteous opinions yet they don't follow any of them. This is not the nation of 'don't do as I do, do as I say' mentality. Keep the church out of the state and more importantly, the state out of the church. This all makes me sick! Pushed back 75 years with this ignorant, pompous ass attitude! Rev. Dr. V A Ward
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
I totally agree Dr Ward. Feel like we are moving back decades as my second internship was at Planned Parenthood of SE PA in Phila in the late 1970's, and was it an incredible comprehensive health clinic. Here's what I say to these people: If you don't have a vagina, STFU, If you have a vagina and you are concerned about another woman's vagina, STFU, lastly keep your theology out of our biology. Life begins at first breath Christians. Read your Holy Book.
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Cindy
There are people who suggest they know the Bible but forget how the soul plays into all we do. Gen; 2,7 reads; God breathed air into the nostrils of man and he became a living being. How did the Bible readers miss this? To this many people reply "I knew you before you were formed." I say God is not talking about the body, this refers to your soul which will enter the body when it breathes air in this world. Till then it is part of the woman. She must agree to be a good, caring, and nurturing mother, or she should not give birth. I have made many people pause for thought. That is the only way to enlighten the dark and closed minded. See what they believe and find out why they believe it. If you have proof to convince them to see the light of day, share it. Write to your representatives and for goodness sakes VOTE!
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Jim
Why should the men step up to the plate as you say when they have no say?
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Rev. M. Dash
My sentiments exactly. Now go forth with this message to all other men and make it the law of the land as this is about choice!
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John Owens
How about the people who MADE those unfortunate children stepping up to the plate? And, women have a right not to screw, don't they? I mean, they SHOULD.
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Ben
Your charity as a Christian is so Republican....meaning non-existent and non-christian.
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Iconoclast
WTH are you calling charity, Ben? If you go out and make a few little babies with two or five women who screw around with different guys, I'm supposed to pony up to take care of them, as though I had any say in their making? That ain't charity. That is something entirely different from charity. Maybe you need to look up charity.
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Ben
John Owen's I have looked it up and here are my findings: "Charitable giving is the act of giving money, goods or time to the unfortunate, either directly or by means of a charitable trust or other worthy cause. Charitable giving as a religious act or duty is referred to as almsgiving or alms. The name stems from the most obvious expression of the virtue of charity; giving the recipients of it the means they need to survive. The impoverished, particularly those widowed or orphaned, and the ailing or injured, are generally regarded as the proper recipients of charity. The people who cannot support themselves and lack outside means of support sometimes become "beggars", directly soliciting aid from strangers encountered in public.
Most forms of charity are concerned with providing basic necessities such as food, water, clothing, healthcare and shelter, but other actions may be performed as charity: visiting the imprisoned or the homebound, ransoming captives, educating orphans, even social movements. Donations to causes that benefit the unfortunate indirectly, such as donations to fund cancer research, are also charity."
My findings are - there are no limits posted to how much charity should be provided and HEALTHCARE is listed (abortions are part of healthcare, in case you didn't know) So thank you. You've proven me right.
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Iconoclast
You've proven yourself an idiot. Charity is outgoing love and concern for the well-being of another person. It is not a political or even financial obligation, to be legislated. I give plenty and often. Most likely a lot more than you, since you obviously cannot hold a job anywhere.
Your FINDINGS? Like you're a freaking judge or something? "My findings are – there are no limits posted to how much charity should be provided and HEALTHCARE is listed (abortions are part of healthcare, in case you didn’t know)" From whence comes this bullshit? NO LIMITS POSTED? Posted where? Whose brainwashing are you quoting? EVERYTHING has limits. The only dumbasses that believe what you are laying down are not providing anything for anyone. Either they expect others to do it, or they expect to RECEIVE the benefits. Your "findings". As if you really researched. As if you know how to research...
Charity does not mean feeding sorry-asses who refuse to work because they are too educated or just want to smoke dope. It also doesn't mean subsidizing murder or subsidizing generations of non-producers. That is not charity. That is socialism, in this country's case, to CREATE a large underclass who can be easily manipulated by the threat of rescinding freebies or giving out more.
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Reverend Krystina S.
Birth control is not "abortion." I abhor the hypocrisy of those who force women to carry a foetus to term, then refuse to bear any governmental responsibility for them once they are actually babies,people.* (Biblical "personhood" begins AFTER the first breath has been completed, therefore a foetus is NOT a "person" Biblically!!) And who feel it is appropriate to act prejudicially against people of color (as Kavanaugh has actually ruled), who do not believe babies should be entitled to nutrition (WIC,) safe daycare, medical care (INCLUDING imminuzations, for God's Sake!), equal safety by law enforcement, protection against being born into poverty, unwanted, drug addicted, medically incapable of survival, products of incest and violence, from young girls and women whose bodies and lives are endangered, to an Education, to a Home, it just goes on and on. And these same people are "afraid" of immigrants, black and brown and poor people, and don't even want to confer citizenship on those they force to be born here, or let them vote without continual proof of citizenship--being frequently purged from voter roles, confronted, etc. I just don't get it. As if they are so very Morally Superior. The "bleeding hearts" are the ChristoFascist "save the foetuses because babies are soooo cute" idiots. AND THEN to refuse BIRTH CONTROL, why? Do the monks get Viagra? Why, YES THEY DO!!! Why do THEY need treatment for Erectile Disfunction? Because that's how INSURANCE works. Even if you do not need the service, insurance provides a minimum of services FOR EVERYONE.
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Bro. Chas
Would you enlighten us with actual Biblical references that you claim exist to support your statements? Also could you inform us with the facts about how Mr. Kavanaugh ruled which directly supports your claims? I sure can't find them and would love to be as informed as you.
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Jim
Reverend Krystina S. Your comments make no sense. State the case where Kavanaugh "actually ruled against a person just because of his color. The one thing in your comments that seems to be missing which in reality is the MAIN issue is PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for "God's sake". I pay property taxes so kids from any income level can go to school. How about if you can't afford a child Don't get pregnant in the first place that will cut out the "being born in poverty" problem. "Drug addicted" don't take drugs.. Immigrants come all LEGALLY. Break the law go back to your own country., I have to prove my citizenship when I travel what's wrong with proving before I vote. If I'm not a citizen of that country I have no business voting. As for incest or rape that is a time that even I would agree that the woman has the right to choose. She did not do the act of her own free will and should not have to live with it. But if you do the crime of your own free will then accept responsibility for your actions. When I got married many moons ago I told my wife we would not have any children for at least 6 years. That was when the average divorce was around 5 years of marriage. Our first child was born 7 years later. My wife is an immigrant to this country who now has her citizenship. We did things the legal and right way. My father had a 9th grade education and my mother the same. When they started out we were at the bottom of the financial ladder as it were. My father became the Vice President of the company he worked for. The first self made female millionaire in this country was an African American woman and that was around 1890. It is not the Governments responsibility for "babies,people.*" YOU are responsible for YOU and no one else, SAME for any children you have. IF people started going back to that PRINCIPLE this country would be a whole lot better off.
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flugo
'rev' Krass: Where is the evidence/reference/documentation for your dis-jointed rambling diatribe?
If you're going to use up so much space in this site, please make it look like you've done your homework, that you're objective; and that it's presented in a logical, understandable manner. Otherwise it's a waste of time/space.
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Stephanie Willey
If all anti abortion laws INCLUDED guaranteed nutritional, health, and educational support of every child from birth to adulthood, which by the way is what I am absolutely sure Jesus would do, then these anti freedom of the personal liberty of choice laws just might have my personal support. But they don't and as long as the GOP is in control never will. Kavanaugh is a card carrying member of the patriarchy whose underlying agenda is NOT really religious based rights of the unborn but actually the agenda of returning women to the status of second class citizens, barefoot and pregnant, and keeping them there. Jesus was a bleeding hart liberal and tried to teach us all to be bleeding hart liberals too.
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Carl Elfstrom
I knew there had to be something wrong with Jesus, while he was a man. Thanks for clarifying that, Stephanie.
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Rev. M. Dash
So right. And what are we finding out about these religious men? Their abusing these children and their source is drying up: families without help who turn to them to “show their children the way.”
I saw it growing up. Those parents dropping their children they couldn’t handle or afford off at after-school religious programs. Trusting they would be safe. After all they’re with god fearing men, what could go wrong? Everything! And, years of it! With all religions!
If everyone would stay out of people‘s bedrooms and healthcare HIPAA laws respected we would be a lot better off.
What’s interesting: Roman Catholic religious medical coverage pays for neither abortions nor fertility treatments as it’s too expensive!
Just in the last half century the Roman Catholic sect of the Catholic Church did approve of fertility drugs and therapies for infertility with age limitations which coincides with a deep depression of Roman Catholics enrollment as defectors migrate to other expanding Catholic sects that stay away from the abortion and fertility issues, as does the Anglican Church!
Oddly, the problem with the Catholic Church has been with the Roman Catholic sect and the western world. Greater freedoms has corrupted many of the religions in the western world. There may be a clue in there somewhere. For one: maybe the pervasiveness of religions trying to control people’s sexuality and lives is unhealthy when the Bible coupled with politics is used as a controlling factor—whatever happened to separation of church and state?
The previous Pope found the political abuses with Roman Catholic Priest enablers in America overwhelming and knew it was finally time to call in the Jesuits to realign the Roman Catholic Church in the West which will now most likely be a massive purge as the dirt swept under the rug can no longer be ignored—it is a mountain blocking all reason. It will most likely change the Papacy forever and can even lead to a regression to pre-Papal reign!
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Clayton Beardmore
Words are cheap when you're vying for a life-time, well-paying, job.
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Carrie
As was asked, "How many laws govern the male body?" None! No court can give, or take a man's shit driven right to reproduce or NOT care about the aftermath! As usual women are being told what they can and can't do in this dystopian society. No one is willing to step up and care for the children in this country, except those who want children. (Look to the still ongoing kiddnapped children at the border) The adage is right...."It takes a village to raise a child." Universal health care solves all these problems but some people are to stupid to realize that! We are the only country in the industrial world that doesn't have it!
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Robert Messmer
Guess that means you are unaware of the Selective Service Law. It didn't directly affect a man's ability to reproduce but it did give (and still does) the government the authority to round him up and ship him off to die. Now it hasn't actually been used since 1973 (ironic since that is when Roe v Wade came about) but it would be easy enough to reactivate it. "As usual women..." oh please stop the pity women nonsense. In today's world women can do anything they want, except maybe be a linebacker for the NFL. No children at the border have been kidnapped except for those kidnapped by traffickers. As to those who have been separated from the parents, that is on the parents for trying to enter the country illegally. Had they followed the law, applied, and waited until permission to enter had been given there would have been no separations. No in reality it does not take a village, It only takes a parent (two, one male and one female are better) just ask the millions of women and men who have actually done so. Universal health care has its own set of problems - such as being out of reach financially. Do you remember this past year when British healthcare, backed by the government, murdered several children? Here is something to consider: https://amac.us/the-medicare-for-all-hoax/?campaign=newsletter
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Rev. M. Dash
Kavanaugh has been proven to be a liar ? in previous Senate hearings. A leopard (animal that preys) cannot change its spots!
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Randy D McDonald
Kavanaugh is a good and man of faith nobody should be able to destroy one's reputation only God has the right to judge
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Ben
Wow, for a religion that supposedly preaches "Love they neighbor", don't judge others, service to the community, charitable works, take care of the poor, etc ... the Republicans never seem to want to do that. Effin hypocrites.
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Jim
That's funny the republican party has done more for minorities and families than the democratic party has even thought about. The Dems perform lib service while the republicans actually try and do something. Look over your history from Lincoln thru today. Trump even gave more to charity than B Sanders who joined the 1% ranks last year making over a million. Not bad for a senator who makes just under 200k a year Hmmm.
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Ben
Jim I'm talking about the current administration. The CURRENT Republicans are EVIL, with their attacks on: Healthcare, Women's rights, LGBTQ rights, Equal rights, basically anyone's rights, that aren't either the 1%, white supremacists or sex offenders. May the full horror of the Republicans actions be revealed to them.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
How curious. I wonder exactly what the republican party has done for minorities, and specifically Native Americans, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Natives? The answer is absolutely nothing.Yes and I know our history very, very well and how the republican party has treated our people. "Try and do something"- whatever that means and nothing more than a fabrication meant for those who are ignorant of indigenous people, and those Republicans in power using our land as toxic dumps, money and for greed, etc.
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Jim
What exactly have the dems put forth that is so good or the independents? I think that the parties have totally screwed up the country and its not getting any better. That said what attacks are referring to? Healthcare or Obamacare is not helping anything they need to revamp the whole thing and get government out of it. LGBTQ rights, Women's rights, equal rights? What exactly has been done to hurt the rights of these groups and individual rights exactly?
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Ben
Jim the Independents can't get into office because "any vote for a 3rd party, is a wasted vote" mentality. Republicans tried to strip away the ACA, and replace it with ... NOTHING. They;re gutting medicare and medicaid, as well as veterans benefits. LGBTQ rights? The Reps don't want them to have any. Woman's rights? Reps are trying to control women's bodies and won't grant them equal pay. Human rights? Taking children, infants from their parents and putting them in concentration camps. Reps are taking our internet freedom & privacy away. Reps are encouraging white supremacy, sexual assault, and lying. They're tampering with our journalistic system- which is against the constitution, Watch something other then FOX news and you'll see countless more atrocities.
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Stephanie Willey
What exactly have the Dem's done that is so good ? you ask ... Gosh, where do I begin ... FDR's policies did much to help the economic and racial underclasses. Truman desegregated the military. Kennedy and Johnson ushered in the most comprehensive civil rights and voting rights laws in our history. Carter appointed more minority professionals to his administration than any previous admin. Clinton advanced womens rights in healthcare, signed the Motor-Voter legislation into law, upheld the rights of striking workers. Obama did more to guarantee the equality and most simple and basic human rights for the LGBTQ .... community than any administration. There's more, lots more. This is just what comes to mind as I write.
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Jim
Ok Stephanie, I’m sure you are aware that presidents do not pass laws they inforce them. That said lets set the record straight for folks who may read this and not quite know what we are talking about. Lets start with FDR’s new deal. FDR was a great leader in a very bad time in our history, however if you ask any economist they will tell you that had it not been for WWII his policies would have been a disaster long term. They did help folks in the short term. FDR’s main focus was trying to restore peoples faith in the government. So he basically hired everyone to work for the government. Social security was started to restore faith as well. They made people feel they had a safety net. The retirement age was set at 62 at the time the average lifespan was about 64. The folks who brought about social security figured all Americans would pay into it but on average about half the folks would collect and then only for a couple of years. unemployment at the time of the US entering WWII was around 17 million which about 12 million went into the military and about the same amount worked in direct support of the war. Which brought us out of the great depression.
You say Truman desegregated the military. In fact the military had already started desegregation on its own. In 1945 Under Lt Gen Gillem Jr the army started policies to improve the treatment of African American soldiers. In 1946 under secretary of war Robert Patterson the army and navy adopt policies of integration and equal rights for African Americans. In 1947 Lt Gen Huebner started training thousands of black soldiers in Europe along side whites. Also in 1947 the newly formed air force closed Tuskegee and started integrated training of flight personal. These programs were started by military not a president. Because of racial turmoil in 1946 Truman did start a civil rights committee to look into ways to improve race relations. In 1948 Truman signed executive order 9981 but only after he was nominated after a racially charged democratic convention. You Said “Kennedy and Johnson ushered in the most comprehensive civil rights and voting right laws in our history” well kinda, in reality it was the republicans who can take credit for the civil rights act passage. If you review your history on this matter you will see that the democrats actually filibustered the bill for 14 hours or so. Sen Byrd from the great state of WV also who was a card carrying KKK member for many years tried to stop the vote. Check the voting record and you will see that the act vote was Yea 73% democrats and 94% Republicans. The voting rights act in 1965 vote was 78% yea for the dems and 82% for the reps. So you see there may have been a democratic president in office but the laws were passed by the republican congress.
Jimmy Carter. You stated “he appointed more minorities than any other president. You are right however the appointments were not to the highest offices. That said he also fired half his staff while in office. He also reinstituted the death penalty in GA as Gov. He also made friends with and praised Fidel Castro, Kim Il Sung, Marsal Tito, Nicolae Ceausescu, Raul Cedras and has stated that Hamas should be recognized as a legit political partner by Israel. All of these folks were dictators who killed thousands of their own people. The first Hispanic appointed to a cabinet position was by R. Reagan. All that said lets remember that this was the 70’s. Racial equality was just really getting started No previous president including JFK had minorities in their cabinets in fact their were not a lot of minorities in the house or senate either. Clinton. Again the health care reform bill was passed by a republican congress. As was the welfare restructuring bill. They also passed the congressional accountability act with 100% of reps voting yea and a few dems voting no One of which I think was Sen Byrd from the great state of W.Va. Lets not forget all the scandals as well. Obama: Again you must take into account that most LGBTQ folks were in the closet until Rock Hudson came out and admitted to being gay and having Aides. This was in or around 1982, 3. It takes an average of about 15 to 20 years for people to get used to a new way of doing things. Basically a generation. So of course Obama would do more for LGBTQ community than any other president. If you look back at the 60’ or 70’s it was never an issue back then. Actually not even that much in the 80’s. In summation: NO ONE should be discriminated against for any reason. What people do in the privacy of their own home is their business. The other side of that coin is that people who disagree with some ones life style has a right to disagree. I have gays in my family and a few folks who do drugs as well. I do not associate with either except at family functions. This is my choice I don’t do drugs and I’m not gay, I disagree with their choice of lifestyle. That said, I also think they have a right to do what they want. They are the ones who decide for themselves, its their decision and its really none of my business. I respect their right to live their life as they see fit that does not mean I must say its ok or bend over backwards to avoid any conflict no more than I would for anyone else. I also disagree with abortion but as long as its legal it is again none of my business. Live and let live on both sides of the issues. For the record I also have respect for FDR, Truman, Robert Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Obama. I do believe they did what they thought was right. I have no use for Bill or Kennedy. I once thought Kennedy to be a great man until I learned what happened behind the scenes and how he treated his wife.Just read your lines Ben. Great CNN talking points. You might want to actually read some history and look at who sponsors some of this stuff. The only thing the dems are looking at is a voting block. They could care less about the people, Hillary proved that.
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Iconoclast
Ben, you're a zombie. Everything you say is just moronic talking points, topped off with the oh-so-typical Fox news BS. Why don't you tell us all where we should get our news? I suppose you get yours from CNN and The View. Concentration camps! Bwah ha ha ha ! Encouraging white supremacy! Bwah ha ha ha! Imbecile!
Just WTH is "tampering with our journalistic system"? You're mindless!
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Carl Elfstrom
The Republican party is not a religion. And us Pagan Republicans are nothing like Christians.
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Ben
The vast majority of Republicans are Christian.
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Ben
Carl, what about the rest of it? Not denying that I see.
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G Dobson
All the other rhetoric aside, a birth control pill is NOT the same as the "morning after" pill. Couldn't we get someone with just a bit of basic biology knowledge? A little knowledge in the other sciences wouldn't hurt, either.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
Absolutely, ignorance of biology and science is pervasive.
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Ben
Not ignorance. REJECTION of science.
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William J. Lewis
And that is not Ignorant?
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Rev. M. Dash
The morning-after pill is the higher concentration of the birth control pill. Alternative: use the birth control pill for 3 days then stop to induce a period! Ta-dah
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G Dobson
Maybe I should have been more clear. Birth control pills OR morning after pill (Plan B) OR doubling/tripling certain birth control pill formulations are all forms of pregnancy PREVENTATIVES. These WILL NOT END a pregnancy. The morning after pill (Plan C, RU-486, vaginal misoprostol) is meant to END a pregnancy in its early stages without needing a surgical abortion. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/health-medicine/science-behind-abortion-pill-180963762/ (this didn't seem to take the first time??)
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G Dobson
Reply to Rev Dash re: double-up bc pills (didn't take on 1st attempt, IDKY). Maybe I should have been more clear. Birth control pills OR morning after pill (Plan B) OR doubling/tripling certain birth control pill formulations are all forms of pregnancy PREVENTATIVES. These WILL NOT END a pregnancy. The morning after pill (Plan C, RU-486, vaginal misoprostol) is meant to END a pregnancy in its early stages without needing a surgical abortion. "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/health-medicine/science-behind-abortion-pill-180963762/"
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G Dobson
Now all 3 turn up, and all 3 are "awaiting moderation?? what's going on here? This is 'reply' to my THIRD attempt.
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Carl Elfstrom
If you think that's something, Gail, stick around for a while. All of my comments are always moderated, but I never complain. I must admit that I've said some very thrown things that don't belong on a ministers blog. You know, this is supposed to have something to do with spirituality. I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes get carried away with what I'm saying, and lose sight of that. So moderating my comments can be a good thing that I usually appreciate, for it avoids later embarrassment.
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John Owens
The man is imminently qualified, by any previously-used definition. Any opposition is simply due to Trump Derangement Syndrome. Mostly it makes the opponents appear shallow, neurotic, and off-kilter.
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Stephanie Willey
Trump Derangement Syndrome ????????
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
"Trump Derangement Syndrome"? Is that his DSM V diagnosis? Funny I cannot locate it in the manual. If it is his diagnosis then that explains a lot about his unhinged behavior, strange affect and forgetfulness.
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Ben
Trump is imminently qualified? You mean he's likely to be qualified at any moment? Cause currently he's less qualified to be president then Benedict Arnold is.
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John Owens
Kavanaugh, you goof! Even Ruth Bader Ginsburg says so.
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flugo
Owens: you're spot on!
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
Wow, so now we know what is behind Kavanaugh's anti woman attitude. Another misogynist sexual predator. who sexually assaulted at least one woman. More is to come out about this sleazy character. He is toast now.
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Iconoclast
Gag! You take psychologist-induced "repressed memories" and tack a name on it and accuse that person, by someone who has all their social web-site stuff professionally scrubbed before hand, and they make an uncorroborated accusation, and you immediately jump to their side, even though no one can corroborate anything. That is very primitive. Redneck, even. He is not toast. You kid yourself.
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Iconoclast
And by the way, he has demonstrated NO such anti-woman attitude.
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Ben
John, Shut your mouth, you're embarrassing yourself. Her psychiatrist has years worth of notes backing up this story, she's been going for psychological help for most of her life, you uninformed dolt.
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Iconoclast
YOU are the uninformed one, Ben. The lying democrat activist professionally scrubbed all her internet information to hide the fact that she IS a democrat activist. You are such a moron, thinking that you are so smart, because you listen to morons who tell you what is smart. That's how easily fooled you are.
The fact she has gone to a shrink most of her life SHOULD BE A RED FLAG! Repressed memories that materialized in 2012? You believe that shit? YOU'RE the uninformed dolt.
The fact that no one corroborates her story AT ALL means you are a dolt. I'll bet you wouldn't believe her if she had accused Barack Obama. Of course, who would?
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John Owens
Epilogue: John Owens was right AGAIN! I win so often, most of the time I don't even notice anymore.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
A male who sexually assaults a woman should never serve on the Supreme Court. No wonder he has demonstrated over and over again, his disdain for women. There is no reedeming quality about this sleazy individual. Feel sorry for his daughters.
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Ben
A man who sexually assaults a minor, should be crucified. A man who assaults an adult, should have his hands and manhood removed.
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flugo
Talking about the fairer gender, how 'bout a joke?: How is a woman and a dog turd similar? The older they get, the easier it is to pick 'em up! lol
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Robert Messmer
For someone with so many initials behind your name you don't keep up very well do you? For one in the United States of America you are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He has not been so proven in a court of law, so we need to presume he is innocent. Also, his accuser now admits that she is not sure about a) when it happened or b) where it happened. According to the media there has been no video, no still pictures, no audio, no eyewitness testimony, no report to her school counselor, no report to his school counselor, no telling her parents, no telling his parents, no telling the host or the host's parents, no telling her best friend and no contemporary entry in her diary. In other words, zero proof. The notes from the therapist differ from her account in her letter and mentions no name(s) for the male(s). According to her lawyer, she will not testify on Monday. Because she doesn't wish to commit perjury?? Latest reports say she is now not sure if it was Kavanaugh or if she mixed him up with someone else.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
Oh please, you sound so idiotic and jealous. You are reading the garbage of the right wing nut jobs at Fox Noise. You do not have inside information so stop pretending you do. His victim is more credible that he is. Get over yourself. It is so interesting that a misogynist like you has to present lies to feed your low ego and attack me with your ridiculous sarcasm. .
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Iconoclast
And, there she goes with the Fox news BS. Really Robert, you should get your news from a reputable news source, like RT, or CNN, or commentary from The View. Bwah ha ha ha ! Really, she is just self-deluded. Like most anti-Trumpers. They make Trump look prescient by their own stupidity and lying.
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flugo
Finally, Messmer, you've presented an honest, fair, unbiased viewpoint. Excellent!
If CO-G, MSW, ADS, OM, XYZ has an iota of scholarship, a speck of objectivity, a mote of accountability, she'll be chagrined and embarrassed by your scholarly refutation of her inane subjective diatribe.
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Minister Jardian Ferguson
First off i would like to take a stand for my grand mother (god rest her soul) Norma Mccorvey, women should have the right to choose what they put in their bodies just as much as any man or any one who falls in between. and for that matter what they do with their bodies. Anything besides allowing another individual the right to an american way of life is just unconstitutional. This is just another poor example of a human being who probably shouldn't be in office let alone the seat of a judge. and let me find out he actually sexually assaulted someone. im outraged. free condoms, lube, and birth control for all. peace.
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RMC
Abortion is murder. Simple.
So, IMHO, if R v. W is overturned it will be GOOD thing. Of course then the battle will move to the states.
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Minister Jardian Ferguson
yes and no, but in my honest opinion so is masturbation and the menstrual cycle but because its not a complete individual yet does it make it and more or less evil ? i can go on and divulge deeper if you'd like. why don't we just let other people live with their choices and try not to over judge anyone. you have no idea what goes on in some folks lives.
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RMC
Just let people murder unborn babies? You equate that with masterbation and a woman's monthly cycle? Please be serious.
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Minister Jardian Ferguson
its literally half the battle? you must be one of those people who jumped on a band wagon without doing research at some point it would be evil yeah but do you have kids ? do you know what its like to try and bring a life into this world in this day and age? what if the mother has no money lives on the streets or is with a man that wont for a fact pony up to take care of that child. so you would rather that child be born and then ultimately suffer because the parent just wasnt fit to raise that child at that current point and juncture? why dont you let other peoples karma be there own and you stop trying to play god and cast judgement on people?
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Ben
Minister Jardian Ferguson, though are so right.
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Iconoclast
If you cared at all about women, you'd warn them not to be having sex at all with losers, and that horny guys will tell a female anything to get between her legs, and she shouldn't be falling for that. But no. You'd rather make all your e m o t I o n a l talking points. Full of crap.
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Bro. Chas
Here we are again with another post on this site that is not balanced or fully factually and is written to enrage and not to engage. Well done ULC author you have successfully accomplished your mission to outrage the foolish and uninformed to lean toward your untrue idealogy. May I try to ntroduce facts and civility to this charade? Fact 1: Mr. Kavenaugh did not call birth control ‘abortion inducing drugs”. He was quoting the words of the arguments of litigants in the case. It was Kamala Harris, Corry Booker, Hollary Clinton and mainstream media who took his words out of context and created the false narrative. Fact 2: Ms Ford has come forth with an allegation. It has yet to be proven true or not. We all can recite situations where allegations proved out to a lie. Let justice run its course before we rush to the verdict. Fact 3: Mr. Kavenaugh never said or acted in anyway that indicated he would reverse RvW. If fact, he termed it settled law. My plea for ULC and many who are commenting is to accurately report and comment. Many comments above are just foolish andignorant statements and not based on facts, but promulagated in fear and anger. Just think about this before you respond.
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William J. Lewis
The real dangerous Elephant in the room, is the issue of the control of "the other". That is how Fascism works. Now Just as the Jews did in the desert we want a King/Government to control everyone we don't agree with. In their case the made a "Golden calf" to save them. We elected one.
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Ray
The whole issue to start with is involvement with the government in "our bedrooms & the alter". The government should not be in the death or marriage business. Abortions and the death penality, two wrongs don't make a right. And IMHO, the government should not be issuing permits for marriage or divorce.
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Ben
Ray of course the government should be in the death or marriage business. Though, the government should be in the civil union business, instead of marriage as marriage is a spiritual thing. A civil union should be a secular union between any two consenting adults. Granting that couple all the secular benefits of a married couple. As for the death part, who else should be in the death business? Give me a non-religious reason why abortion is wrong? Give me a reason why anyone has a right to tell a woman what she can or cannot do to her own body. The death penalty is a something promoted even by the old testament. Some people just can't be rehabilitated (ie: serial killers, child rapists) and will always be a threat to society. The government should stay out of the bedroom and out of our temples - as long as we maintain "An it harm none, do what ye will".
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Kim
The statement says Priests for Life was told to fill out a form if they objected to birth control. Their response to USDH&H was "THEY said filling out a form would make them complicit in the provision of the abortion-inducing drugs they were." Those were Priests for Life's words not Kavanaugh's, he was just quoting them! Priests for Life felt that even filling out the form would make them complicit. They have that right. People just jump to conclusion without comprehending what they read. Research for yourself, stop believing everything you read, getting all upset and insulting and attacking others. I became a minister because I felt it would better me- It would give me something good to reach for. But some of you act like terrible people. I hate to read the comments to these questions. No civility, just plain ugliness. Stop attacking other commenters. If you disagree just say why. You might learn something and change your view.
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Bro. Chas
Thank you Kim! Finally a voice of logic, reason and intelligence among the many who "shoot from the hip" with untruths, hatred and anger.
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Mitt Radates
Kavanaugh did not refer to birth-control pills as abortion-inducing drugs. Your headline took his actual comment out of context. Get it right if you want to have credibility.
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Rev Ned
IMHO, the abortion debate is all about business. The business of a church is to sell the hope of eternal life.
The best way for a church to survive, financially, is to bring new members into the fold. The best way to accomplish this goal is raise the children of current members, through Sunday School, etc., to continue in the church as adults. Converting adults is hard. So, any form of birth control is bad for business.
The Catholic Church recognizes this and bans any form of birth control. The more children, the better. As adults, providing they remain members, they will ensure the success of the business.
To prove the above, all one needs to do is look at the Shakers. Their business model included total separation of men and women, therefore no children. The only way to get new members was to proselytize them. There is one Shaker village remaining, and it is in the state of Maine.
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Bill Fox
Roe verses Wade is not a law. It is a decision that removes the states ability to arbitrarily deny abortion. Abortion is a State's Rights issue, like capital punishment or eminent domain. All state laws and individual rights are subject to the limitations of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. All the reversal of Roe verses Wade would accomplish would be to again allow the states to arbitrarily decide who can and cannot get an abortion. It would not abolish abortion. Congress has the option of establish guidelines for all states or trying to pass an amendment, but abortion has become a political goldmine for both liberals and conservatives, so neither wants to actually do anything to resolve, limit, or increase abortions. Until that time, it's up to the state, within Constitutional guidelines. Judge Cavanaugh would be the least likely jurist to "repeal" Roe verse Wade.
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Lea Weisenbach
I'm just plain tired of religions that think their rules rule. The bible belt has the highest in venereal disease...And children that seem to born from alcohol parents..sad..But I have to pay for their problems...Why do I have to pay for people that want to live in a fantasy world...Why do I have to pay for the mental illness that religions people create.
Religion should stay out of peoples bedrooms and just chean their own door step.
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Minister Jardian Ferguson
how about everyone who is against abortion start adopting kids or funding the parents who cannot possibly afford that child. all i see is people pointing out their sour opinions on a subject that they only care enough about to type about. if you're not part of someones solution, you're part of the ultimate problem. i understand why my grandmother did what she did. my mother was the second child that was adopted. i had a great life and so did my mother. matter of fact because of this i came to understand that you don't have to be related or what ever to love something. the water is so mixed with blood now a days that if you seriously aren't trying to be generous and love people without judging them, if you are pointing fingers or throwing stones in a glass house maybe we should start over scrutinizing all of you naysayers for any and all insecurities about anything you may have going on in your life. STOP BEING JUDGEMENTAL FUCKING PRICKS. MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS!!!!!!
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Robert Messmer
Better yet how about everyone who doesn't want kids not get pregnant or impregnates others.
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Ben
Robert what gives you the right, too tell someone what to do with their bodies? If you don't believe in abortion, don't have have one. Other then that, mind your own business.
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Iconoclast
If we have no right to tell someone else what to do with their body, we also bear no responsibility for anything that goes on with that body, or any children that body may produce. If we have any responsibility to pay for anything, we have some right to tell them. Period. You cannot have it both ways.
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Ben
John your charitable obligation as a Christian says you have to. What law or bible verse says if you help someone that you get to control their life? How about this, when you start collecting social security, I get to tell you how to spend it?
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Iconoclast
Ben, your little asshole generation wants to euthanize people when they are old enough to draw SSI.
Again you show what a prick you are, trying to preach Christian values, when you are a professed Gaian.
Note this: If you give someone an amount of food, or money, regularly, you are COMPLETELY entitled to set rules or limits. That may be your problem: Your mommy just gave you stuff and didn't set boundaries.
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Ben
As a sexual predator, Kavanaugh had no credible opinion on women's bodies.
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Robert Messmer
He is not a sexual predator as he has not been so adjudicated. Indeed his accuser is now saying she might have confused him with someone else. But using that logic, no one who has not been successfully aborted has no credible opinion on abortion.
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Ben
You're incorrect Robert, she's testifying next week.
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Iconoclast
Well, we see how well all the Democrat perjury worked out for them. Imagine the citizens will remember it next month, too. Idiots.
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Iconoclast
Not one scintilla of evidence he is a sexual predator.
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Ben
Well FBI was only allowed to interview people that would confirm Kananaugh's story, of course there was no evidence. The whole inquiry was a sham and the world knows it, Except for you John.
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flugo
been: Where's your head? You don't KNOW the FBI's investigation parameters, do you? And, the world DOESN'T know about an alleged sham. Your generalizations and groundless diatribe would shame any intelligent person. What a waste of time!
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Ben
The parameters were listed.
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Iconoclast
Wait, b0blf, maybe Ben's right in a way that he is too obtuse to admit. The ENTIRE inquiry was a sham, STARTING WITH FEINSTEIN leaking the letter. It was all carefully planned by the left and now they are butt-hurt again because their dirty little plan failed. That is why Ford's internet history was carefully cleansed, to hide her past from the public. That is why she lied about the extra door on her house. The Democrats know it is all BS, but just wanted another Mueller-type investigation to drag out forever. Ben is a liar and a suck-up and HE knows it, just like everyone else here.
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Ben
A suck up? To who? I'm not even a Democrat. We're ALL liars? Really? Look in the mirror pal.
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Iconoclast
You said it, when you said, "WE," as in you (plural) Democrats. Oh yes, you are a democrat, and you are sucking up to the other democrats on this blog, and it is useless for you to accuse me of being what you are or doing what you do, which is called, I believe, by DEMOCRATS, "deflecting". You always accuse others of doing what you are actually doing. It is a defense mechanism. Full of guile, but effective in many cases.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
Actually, anyone who does not have a uterus or vagina, should STFU and anyone who has them and is concerned about another woman's should STFU too. What a joke you anti choice peeps are. A bunch of hypocrites. You do absolutely nothing about the thousands of children in every state in the US waiting in foster care and orphanages for adoptive parents. These are the children YOU should be reaching out to love not someone's tissue. NO you are not "pro life" you are only interested in controlling other women and our bodies. To Hell with all of you who stand on that stage and preach a bunch of garbage. You have no morality or value until you step up and help children who are already here just begging to be taken care of by loving people. And you men, who have so much garbage spewing from your Neanderthal mouths, STFU too if you cannot handle our personal and private decisions.When you grow a uterus and can get pregnant, then you have a say..
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Ben
Catherine Ohrin-Greipp - Thank you! Finally a voice of reason. Everyone ,,, listen to this woman.
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flugo
'been': Your 11 Oct comment should read 'to whom', not 'to who'!
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Iconoclast
By that standard, anyone without a penis should STFU about men. Minorities cannot talk about white people, and people who are not involved in law enforcement should STFU about police. If others are expected to help with the financial stuff involved, then they should also have a say-so. Duh!
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Ben
John, basically she's say mind your own gosh darn business.
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Iconoclast
That would apply to you, too, Ben. It becomes my business if tax money is involved. Period. It is not your business since you do not contribute to society.
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Ben
Unlike Trump, I pay my taxes. So I do contribute to society. You sir are a blister on societies backside.
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Iconoclast
Is this some more of your "college educated English," Ben? LOL!!! Let someone you called a hillbilly show you the possessive form of society-- it should be, "society's". Of course, if one was referring to being the backside(s) of MULTIPLE societies, then it would be, "societies'."
I won't rub it in too much. That is what lefties do when they have nothing intelligent to say, like you enjoy doing.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp, MSW, ADS, OM
Agree with Ben and Jardian, Enlightened beings.
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Ben
John Owens "Okay, the first paragraph has nothing to do with Donald Trump, and everything to do with any bureaucracy on the planet." False - Trump demands obedience. He's even demanded oaths to it. Normal bureaucracy doesn't have that. "The second is true of everyone." False - Trump is demented and warps reality and truth to suit his wants. "The third is a big, bald-faced lie." Again false.
"Nazis were socialists." False the National Socialist party was fascist. "Nazis advocated violent civil disobedience to alter discourse." So does trump. he ordered his cultists to hurt dissenters at his rallies and they did - more then once. "Nazis were anti-Semitic." Trump's anti-Muslim, close enough. He's also against the LBGTQ community, Just like the Nazis.
You're ignorant and a danger as a minister.
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Iconoclast
Dumbass, you just called NAZIS the Nazi Socialist Party in the same sentence as you said they weren't socialists. WTF does Socialist mean if it doesn't mean socialist?
“Nazis advocated violent civil disobedience to alter discourse.” So does trump. he ordered his cultists to hurt dissenters at his rallies and they did – more then once." Those people were trying to hurt Trump supporters, you goon. Anyway, he never tried to incite riots or advocated civil disobedience or encourage assassination of police like Obama.
You lied-- Trump is not against the LBGTQ community.
Anti-Muslim is the exact opposite of ant-semitic. Hitler was PRO-muslim.
"False – Trump demands obedience. He’s even demanded oaths to it. Normal bureaucracy doesn’t have that." Even CNBC is showing that entrenched bureaucrats are scheming daily to derail Trump. ALL leaders demand obedience. Please provide proof he has demanded oaths to it. I can imagine asking someone, "do you promise?" I don't think you know whereof you speak.
You are ignorant and a danger to yourself and others. Luckily, you have no following.
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Secretary3rd
100 or so years ago in Britain women were demanding their rights to vote.They march and were attack by patrons of pubs. That night four pubs were burn down. When churches branded women as imps of Satan they too felt fire. Priest who branded women as Satan whores were found to have lost their manhood by the next Sunday. It got so bad that women were told that they hat/hair pins were illegal to have. Judges lived in, fear the police would not arrest women for the fear that they would be attacked. At night the streets were void of men looking for a good time, pubs close when the sun set for the lack of drinkers. It was World War 1 that saved Britain from having a civil war. I wonder how many preachers would voice an opinion if they knew that doing so would have their church fire bomb and the manhood place in a jar? How many in Congress would vote against women rights if they need to worry that the next woman they met shook their hand while snapping off their manhood. It also applies to Imams.
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Ben
Reversal question? Why should pagans have to pay for Kavanaugh's healthcare or pension? These high level government positions are all seasonal and part time. I don't know of any other seasonal/part-time workers who get benefits.
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Ben
Dr Ford: 36 years agol was sexually assaulted. GOP: Doesn't seem credible. The Bible: 2000 years ago Jesus' sky dad whose existence can't even be proven said gayness is evil. GOP: You heard the man.
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Kazar Alexander
It is a woman's choice to make a decision about her life. The government is to involved in people's choices.
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Iconoclast
It is a woman's choice to have unprotected sex. It should be a woman's choice to pay for her own birth control. If you want government out of it, they need to be all the way out of it. You cannot honestly say, just give me money and do not tell me what to do, or take care of me but let me do as I wish. That is insane.
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Ben
Iconoclast How about when a woman gets raped? How about for Catholics who can't use birth control & have to submit to their husbands? I guess she's screwed twice by your logic? Did your mother have any children that lived?
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Iconoclast
You are grasping at straws, Grasshopper, and speaking of things from a perspective of ignorance. American Catholics can and do use birth control and American women who do not want to have sex with their husbands do not have to do so.
The percentile of pregnancies caused by rape is so miniscule it should not be a factor.
My point was not that a woman should not be able to get an abortion, but rather the idea that if I must contribute money for it, then I should have some sort of say, input, influence on the decision. Otherwise, it is taxation without representation.
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Ben
Icon; If these women followed the teachings of the Catholic church they can't. What say do you have in any if the taxes that you pay? What say do you have in any other form of healthcare, for other people, do you have a say in, that you deserve a say in this?
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Iconoclast
American Catholics, thankfully, are capable of exercising common sense, for the most part, and do not all have 5-13 children. They are assimilated. I really cannot answer anything else you are asking because it is not clear what you are saying beyond that.
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flugo
'icon': Excellent!
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Ben
John; I'm Generation X and I value our seniors. Unlike the Republican Party which is attacking our seniors benefits, I asked you "What law or bible verse says if you help someone that you get to control their life?" That isn't preaching, that's asking you. How dare you bring my mother into this. You Trump fellating, anti-christ,.
John Owens
Ben, your little asshole generation wants to euthanize people when they are old enough to draw SSI.
Again you show what a prick you are, trying to preach Christian values, when you are a professed Gaian.
Note this: If you give someone an amount of food, or money, regularly, you are COMPLETELY entitled to set rules or limits. That may be your problem: Your mommy just gave you stuff and didn’t set boundaries.en
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John Owens
I'll stand by every bit of that which I wrote, and it is obviously true. That's why you got your little lacy knickers in a twist.
Oh yeah. I was right again. Like I was about science NOT proving that people are born gay, but we all actually knew that before we started talking about it. I just had to prove I could read better than You and Catherine and Stephanie and T'Keren.
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If it’s part of a healthcare plan in the life of a private citizen despite your beliefs if that person is your employee it’s none of your dam business concerning private healthcare of each patient .
health care is about saving lives.........abortion is not about health care. I support Kavanaugh 100%
Reversing roe v wade will kill women. So much for pro life.
It's not about pro-life Paul. It's about controlling women. Proof? They only want the child born, but don't want to help mother or child in any other way.
There is no proof of that. Remember when the experts declared that if Trump was elected the world economy would immediately go into a depression? Didn't happen. Predicting the future is tricky.
Robert Messmer September 19, 2018 at 6:18 pm " ...immediately go into a depression? " Define "immediately". Hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars in tariffs is only pulling blocks out of the world economic Jenga tower. Depression won't be enough to define what will happen next. Immediately, or otherwise.
Reversing Roe v Wade will not KILL anyone. What baloney!
Abortions will always happen. Roe V Wade protects safe abortions. Look it up.
That is beside the point, Ben. The statement that it would kill people if reversed is the point. Mindless exaggeration. No one is forced to have abortions. No one is forced to have them done by unskilled practitioners. Very few are actually forced to have sex in the first place. Why not say, sexual promiscuity will kill people? It does, you know, but I don't hear many people on the left or right talking about that. Actually, no one is talking about reversing Roe versus Wade, except the Democrats. Another fear tactic used to stir up the low-information, low-functioning voters.
If the healthcare plan is being provided by the employer it is indeed the employer's business. If the patient doesn't like the plan provided they should, and are free to, work elsewhere.
Robert Actually with HIPA laws, your employer can't know your health issues. A good Christian should provide: selfless, sacrificial, unconditional charity. Healthcare is charity.
You claimed to follow Gaiia, yet tell others how to be a good Christian. I do not think a good Christian would listen to a follower of Gaiia, unless you mean Gaiia music, which is very soothing. Still, I think you were speaking of the pagan Earth Goddess.
A good "Christian should provide...?" Honestly. What should a good Gaiian provide? Or a good atheist?
I'll tell you this much, if someone is spending my money, I have a say in what they purchase. Otherwise, I will with-hold my money.