Religious Liberty or Political Grandstanding?

Professor Ben Gershman weighed in on the current health insurance/contraceptive debate calling the arguments employed by Republicans and officials of the Catholic Church “phony.”

In a piece that appears on the Huffington Post Politics blog, Professor Gershman says President Obama’s health care legislation that would require religious institutions to include contraception coverage as part of health insurance plans for its employees does not discriminate against any religion.

He substantiates his position by citing earlier cases where the courts ruled that claims of religious freedom and conscience did not override public policies.

“But there is no question that the Obama administration’s policy to require religious institutions to provide insurance coverage for contraception does not discriminate against any religion, and serves an important, even compelling public policy,” he writes.