Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

COLGATE4

(14,732 posts)
Sun Feb 12, 2012, 08:26 PM Feb 2012

A modern fairy tale

Once upon a time there was a community somewhere in the United States which, by chance if not by design was comosed mostly of people from the Jehovas Witness faith. As their community progressed the citizens decided it would be good to have a hospital to serve it. So it was that the local Kingdom Hall had many fundraisers and, in due time a community hospital was built. It was to be run by Jehovahs Witnesses and adhere strictly to Jehovas Witness teaching, but also employed cititzens of different faiths, particulary in its non-medical areas: administration, maintenance, clerical, etc. Everyone was happy with how the hospital was run. And being a model institution, it provided decent health insurance for all its staff, Witnesses and non-Witnesses alike. The only catch was that, as a good, God-fearing and scripture obeyeing institution, the Hospital did not approve of or perform blood transfusions, as being antithetical to the teachings of the Church.

Then the President of the US promulgated some new rules and regulations, which npw made it obligatory for the Hospital to provide health insurance plans for its employees which covered a multitude of medical procedures, including blood transfusions when necessary. And the elders of the Jevohas Witnesses heard of this and decried it - "How can they do this to us? It violates our religious freedom".

And the House Republican Leader and the Senate Minority Leader agreed, and promised swift legislative action to make sure that never, ever would Hospital employees receive a blood transfusion under their existing health insurance plans, even if the Hospital didn't have to pay for it.

And the Church Elders and Fox News were not assuaged. "It's an OK first step, but we're still being oppressed and our religious freedom is being violated. We won't stand for any of our employees receiving a blood transfusion no matter who pays for it!"

And Fox News spun it 24/7 and President Obama just put his face in his hands in sheer disbelief.

So glad that it's only a fairy tale.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

NAO

(3,425 posts)
1. And down the road, a community most of the Scientology faith
Sun Feb 12, 2012, 08:31 PM
Feb 2012

and they did not want a government mandate of mental health care.

Their consciences demanded that the government healthcare pay for "auditing" instead.

annabanana

(52,791 posts)
2. This could also be written about porcine heart valves
Sun Feb 12, 2012, 08:44 PM
Feb 2012

at Long Island Jewish Hospital . . . . . (which I could never imagine them doing.. It is a first rate hospital)

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
4. Which only proves that we should have national health care. Therefore no hospitals or others
Sun Feb 12, 2012, 08:53 PM
Feb 2012

Last edited Sun Feb 12, 2012, 11:17 PM - Edit history (1)

will have to provide any type of health care to their employees that they don't approve of because it's not in their hands anymore. All their employees have to do is to use the health care available that they can use in good conscience and not that which violates their religious freedom. So anyone who feels using contraceptives is a sin don't have to use them.

Confusious

(8,317 posts)
5. President Obama just put his face in his hands in sheer disbelief.
Sun Feb 12, 2012, 09:45 PM
Feb 2012

Highly unlikely.

He would try to "accommodate" or "compromise" with them.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»A modern fairy tale