"Not Having Sex Doesn't Make You Sick"
by digby
According to this report by Dana Goldstein, the forced pregnancy forces are gathering strength to fight the next battle in reproductive health care --- access to contraception. Of course, access to birth control is supported by nearly 80% of the public and most people think it's nuts to even think about making it difficult to obtain. But these people take the long view about about such things and will move those goal posts slowly as long as abortion rights are in play --- which they most certainly are.
But, never fear, the goal is clear:
"I don't want to overstate or understate our level of concern," said McQuade, the Catholic bishops' spokesperson. "We consider [birth control] an elective drug. Married women can practice periodic abstinence. Other women can abstain altogether. Not having sex doesn't make you sick."
I'm thinking that maybe the Catholic Bishops ought to think twice about that particular argument. After all, there is some evidence that for a fair number of their clergy, celibacy does contribute to sickness. Serious sickness. The Church isn't exactly a credible voice on these issues anymore.
Update: Amanda has more.
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