Freedom of the Individual

I am thinking today about President Obama's directive that all employers, including religious employers, make the health care option of birth control available to their employees at no charge.  It's part of his health care initiative.

I am thinking about the uproar that many such employers are making about this, if they oppose birth control.

I am thinking about freedom as well.

• Freedom of worship
• Freedom of the religious group
• Freedom of the individual

Scenario 1:  the religious group is FREE to hold it's convictions and impose them on everyone who works for them, whether the individuals are members of their faith or not.  Institutional freedom trumps individual freedom.

Scenario 2:  the religious group MUST PROVIDE the opportunity for birth control to all it's employees and let them freely decide whether or not to use birth control.  Individual freedom trumps institutional freedom.  In this case only those (members or not) who espouse that tenet of the religious group will forgo birth control, as well as those too old to be worried about it I suppose.

I am thinking that freedom comes in various sizes and flavors.

• Should individual people be more free than institutions? 
• Should institutions be free to impose their unfreedoms on individuals? 

My understanding of freedom of religion is that each religious belief can be practiced until it imposes its rules on an individual who doesn't believe that way.  E.g., we can persuade, but not coerce.  Especially, no group can use the services of the government to coerce. 

I am thinking that President Obama has the right of it in this case.  The freedom of the individual (whether a member of a religious group or not) comes first.

What do you think?  Submit a comment and let us know.

P.S. - how does this relate to the religious concern about gay and lesbian marriage?  Blood transfusions for babies who need them?  Vaccinations of children?