The Obama administration’s recent compromise involving birth control coverage for those whose health insurance comes from a religious not-for-profit employer has been accused of trampling the rights of religious institutions. I argue anything less would have been a trampling of individual rights, an ideal far more sacred to the spirit of our nation than the ideals of the church.

Under the current compromise, workers (and dependents also covered by their insurance) at religious non-profits such as schools, hospitals, charities and universities have the option to request coverage of family planning resources at no charge to themselves. The plan also allows the affected institutions to say they do not pay for such services. What is not covered are persons directly employed by houses of worship such as reverends, nuns and janitors. Though I would rather see those individuals covered as well, the nature of their work is more closely tied to the teachings of their religion. It is a reasonable compromise.

The importance of this measure is that it champions and successfully defends individual freedom. It makes birth control available to those who want it at no additional cost, and allows those who do not believe in such things to abstain.

Many in the Republican field say President Obama has a strong record of robbing Americans of their individual freedoms. Ironically, many of them would have preferred to prioritize the churches’ wishes over the individuals’.

One concern I have about this rule is that the First Amendment bars the government from making laws that concern establishments of religion. This rule, while being less intrusive than the administration’s original proposal, does seem to force some religious institutions to do what they wouldn’t otherwise do. Because of this there may be challenges in court to the new rule, but I believe it will stand up because other similar rules that disallow religious practices such as polygamy have laid precedent for the government regulating the absolute will of the church.

In the end, the majority in government and in the religious world are happy with the new rule as it currently stands, including the Catholic Health Association, which said, “We are pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated enough that an early resolution of this issue was accomplished.”

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