Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby Blog    

            Headline news in a recent Wall Street Journal article detailed the Supreme Court’s ruling that “closely held” companies can invoke religious objections to avoid covering contraception in workers’ health plans. “Supreme Court Makes Religious Exception to Health-Care Law”, Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2014. It is considered one of the most important rulings on religion in years.

            The case of Hobby Lobby is the first to challenge President Barack Obama’s 2010 health law that extends health care to women of childbearing age.  The Affordable Care Act requires employers to cover all forms of contraception approved by the government.

            Hobby Lobby is a for profit arts and crafts chain owned by an evangelical Christian family. They objected to health coverage that included the morning after pill and certain intrauterine devices because their belief is that it is a form of abortion.

            The ruling by the Supreme Court in effect opens the door to individuals, nonprofits and other companies seeking exemption from federal laws they believe is against their faith. As it stands, there are a number of related cases in the lower courts at this time.

           

            There are arguments on both sides of this fence. On one side there is concern that this will jeopardize women’s health by denying them full medical benefits. There is also concern of what other exemptions are going to be sought based on religious beliefs. Other positions are not that people shouldn’t be able to have these, but that they shouldn’t be forced to pay for it. 

            It is every individuals right to have an opinion and approve or disapprove the use of certain contraception’s based on their religious beliefs. I somewhat understand the ruling on one level – If it is against your religion, how can the government force you to pay for it. It has been suggested that there are other ways that Congress could ensure that every woman has access to the specific contraceptives that are at the center of this argument.

            Interesting case and the not the last we will be hearing about it and others that follow from it.

Genealogy Blog

Genealogy Blog

            Through all the discussions of the past from the beginnings of humans in the Paleolithic era through the modern era, I became thoughtful of my own heritage and family history.

           

            I am adopted and when I was in my mid-twenties I ventured on a journey to discover who my ancestors were. This was before the time of current Genealogy websites and services promising to trace your ancestor tree.

           

            All I had was one simple piece of paper and a lot of gumption. Written on that single piece of paper were the names, height, weight, vague location of residences at the time of my birth, interests and hobbies of both my biological parents.

            What I eventually discovered was that I was conceived in Oahu, Hawaii (although I am not Hawaiian). My parents were not married and during that era is was inconceivable to have a child out of wedlock.  

            With a surname and a rotary dial telephone (lol), I called a number of residences in the Hawaiian Island of Oahu asking to speak to the person whose name appeared on my piece of paper.

            On the fourth call, I had miraculously connected to my natural grandparents. They said my mom had just left to return home in the Bay Area and asked if I was a friend of hers.  Long story short, I was reunited with my grandparents, and eventually met my natural mother and father.

            One of the most memorable discoveries that came out of this reconnection was a story my grandfather told me about his life in the Navy during Pearl Harbor. He was a captain and had built a bomb shelter for his family. A Times photographer took a picture of my mom and her two sisters inside the shelter sitting on a bed. On the chest of drawers next to them were supplies (e.g., candles, flashlight, canned goods – one of which was a can of Spam).

            This photograph was featured in Times Magazine after which Hormel Foods sent my grandfather’s family a semi filled with cans of Spam! They distributed it to all their neighbors, family, and friends and donated what was remaining to other shelters on the Island.

            My mother gave me a copy of this picture ~ three tow head little girls all snuggled together while big wide grins; I still cherish it today.