Letter: Court decision permits religious discrimination | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Letter: Court decision permits religious discrimination

          I am writing in response to the June 30 U.S. Supreme Court Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby/Conestoga Wood Specialties vs. Sibelius decision, which exempts for-profit businesses from covering employee birth control costs.

          As a public health advocate and a Jewish female, I fear the effects this will have on women of Jewish faith across the country. I fear for women who rely on birth control coverage from employers, and who do not make enough money to supplement their own health-care costs.

          The law protects my right as a woman to decide when, how, and with whom I decide to start my family. This is my decision and mine alone. No person should be able to interfere with a woman’s access to affordable birth control.

          While religious liberty means the freedom to practice religion openly, it also means the freedom to not have religion imposed on you by others.

          Since when did it become okay for one religion to have greater importance than another? Because I am Jewish I don’t have the right to get birth control because my boss does not practice the same faith?

          My health care is not my bosses’ business, and no religious viewpoint should ever justify denying another access and quality of care. That is pure discrimination to women and people of differing faith.

          Birth control is essential health care. In fact, 90 percent of women will use contraception during their lives. So, it is only logical that it should be treated like any other preventive medical care. The fight is most certainly not over.

Sari Edelman

Madison

          Milwaukeean Sari Edelman is a senior at Tulane University and is majoring in public health.