It is long past time for the members of our nation’s religious communities to focus on how they conduct their own lives, and leave the rest of us alone. In Kentucky, a county clerk refused to do her sworn duty, in a job no one forced her to take, and issue a valid, legal marriage license because the woman — married three times herself — believes her personal views about marriage outweigh both the views of all others, as well as the law.
Elsewhere, significant numbers of people are screaming that Planned Parenthood should lose public funding because it provides abortion assistance, a ridiculous stance at best. Abortion assistance, which is legal, comprises only about 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s services, and public funds are not used for this. Most services they offer help reduce the need for abortion, a painful and private decision, in the first place. Simply put, if Planned Parenthood loses its public funding, abortion numbers will rise as their preventative services dwindle. Those arguing to remove their funding either know this and do not care, or are completely ignorant of the facts.
Religious freedom allows you to believe whatever you wish, period. It does not allow you to discriminate against others who believe differently, nor does it allow you to ignore our laws.
