To the editor:

That the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is not willing to accept President Obama’s compromise offer to have insurance companies provide contraceptive coverage is not surprising.

The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ goal is to deny every woman, not just Catholics, the right to use contraceptive methods. Yet they do not speak for most Catholic women in this country who are strongly pro- choice and use contraceptive methods.

Nor do they take into consideration that a “ pro- choice” position exists alongside a “nochoice” position in Catholic history.

Birth control is a health issue, and it is clear that whatever their religion, most women want it to be available to them.

The United States recognizes men and women as equals. The Catholic Church and other fundamentalist religions do not.

Men make the laws. Men do not get pregnant.

The Catholic hierarchy is a powerful force. It is the only religion with a seat in the United Nations.

When the U.N. voted to help with the African AIDS epidemic, the Catholic position against using condoms prevailed. The number of deaths of men and women is staggering leaving orphans to fend for themselves.

Barack Obama, as president, has the responsibility to ensure that all religions in the United States have the freedom to practice their faith but not impose their doctrine on others. He is to be commended for protecting women’s rights and access to birth control.

Gene Proctor,
West Bath

letters@timesrecord.com