The abortion debate always manages to rear its ugly head, but now it's finding more inconspicuous ways to do so.
This time the issue has popped up under the guise of the "conscience clause."
Through this clause, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department has given health care providers the ability to deny requests for birth control if it goes against their guts.
Apparently, a pharmacy worker's religious and moral beliefs are now much more important than a woman's right to purchase birth control.
That seems a bit unfair to us. Why should Washington have the ability to empower some ultra-conservative white coat to deny a woman her right to take the pill?
We hear the reasons for and against abortion, and at times both sides can make some sense. But limiting birth control on the basis of some stranger's moral stance stretches far beyond the realm of absurdity. It's just ignorant.
Health and Human Services defends this clause by saying it's meant to protect a health care provider's "conscience rights." We understand you may not want to repeatedly prescribe Xanax to a 17-year-old girl. That would bother our collective conscience, too.
Birth control is a slightly different story, though. Teen pregnancy rates don't need to be boosted, especially not by some behind-the-counter Bible banger.
Luckily, this regulation is only in draft form. Hopefully it stays that way.
