An unprecedented campaign against religious liberty, characterized by a formidable alliance between the White House and Planned Parenthood, bolstered by money, power, and market branding, is threatening women's well-being.

Planned Parenthood and the Government v. 

Religious Liberty and Women's Wellbeing

by  Helen Alvaré

Following President Obama's re-election, the HHS mandate requiring most religious institutions to provide health insurance that covers "free" contraception, sterilization, and morning- and week-after pills is still on the books. Despite the strong outcry against the mandate, the Obama presidential campaign continued to ratchet up the pressure on religious conscientious objectors during the summer and fall of 2012.

HHS Secretary Sebelius's "war on women" motif was carried seamlessly into campaign advertisements for Obama's re-election. Female voters in targeted states were treated to ads exhorting them to "Vote like your lady parts depend on it. Because they kinda do."

Most revealing was a TV ad featuring actress Lena Dunham, who stars in a show about the sex lives of unmarried women. Comparing voting for Obama to losing one's virginity, she closes with the suggestion that it's "super uncool to be out and about and someone says, 'Did you...' and you say 'No I wasn't ready.'" She adds, "Before I was a girl, now I was a woman." Voting for Obama, apparently, is akin to great sex.

The result is an administration--led by men, but fronted by women--blatantly in favor of the view that to be "for women" (and to be super cool), you should support casual sex and the free contraception that facilitates it. The Obama campaign's real message about the HHS mandate translates as follows: If you object to coercing religious institutions into sponsoring free contraception, you are no friend to women.

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Read more: www.thepublicdiscourse.com

Contraception and Women's Wellbeing: 

NFP, Disillusionment, and the Poor

by Helen Alvaré

Contraception isn't the only way to plan a family, and it certainly isn't cost-free: contraception leads to sexual disillusionment and weakens the marriage culture at the expense of the least well-off women. The second in a three-part series.

In yesterday's essay, I described a new alliance formed between our national government and Planned Parenthood, and how they are waging an unprecedented campaign against religious liberty in the United States--and threatening female wellbeing at the same time. Today and tomorrow I consider how we can respond to their arguments about human sexuality.

Contraception Is Not the Only Way to Plan a Family

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Read more: www.thepublicdiscourse.com