Businesses should leave preaching to preachers

In the midst of heated rhetoric around President Obama's decision about faith-sponsored institutions and health care insurance, let's look at those institutions.

When any group decides to open a hospital or found a university, it employs architects, directors, accountants and other staff necessary to run that institution. Its primary purpose is to provide health care or education.

As such, it should behave as a business. It should pay salaries, charge appropriate fees, balance the budget, maintain the building and provide necessary equipment and supplies. And hospitals should invite pastors, rabbis, priests or imams to visit their members.

If it is large enough, part of that business' behavior is offering health care insurance coverage for all, letting each employee choose which plan, procedures and medicines are appropriate and necessary.

Yes, that institution will probably pay part of the premium for each employee, and the sponsoring faith may object to some coverage, but that is part of the responsibility for the privilege of living in a democracy. We all pay taxes that go to projects we do not approve.

This is what religiously affiliated institutions should do as businesses. Leave preaching religion to priests, pastors, rabbis or imams in their respective churches, tabernacles or mosques.

Elizabeth A. Belden

Alburnett