Tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to hear a recap of the contraception controversy, a fresh perspective on the US Constitution abroad and an update on the Ugandan “kill the gays” bill.
Catholics and Contraception
Calling the recent uproar over the Obama Administration’s rule requiring employers provide health coverage that includes birth control and contraception at no-cost to the employee a “hornet’s nest” would be unkind to hornets. Religion Dispatches senior editor Sarah Posner is back with us this week to walk us through the contraception controversy. Posner has been following this issue closely at both Religion Dispatches and Salon and we’d recommend clicking over to both sites when you’re done listening to the interview for up-to-the-minute information.
The US Constitution Abroad
There are assumptions about our Constitution – its permanency and its exceptional nature – that form the foundation for a broad sweep of convictions, including the idea that it should be the basis of constitutions in other countries. However, Adam Liptak, Pulitzer Prize winning Supreme Court reporter for the New York Times, argues in a recent article entitled “We the People Loses Appeal with People Around the World” that much of the world views the US Constitution as old, outdated and even “provincial.” Liptak joins us this week to talk about his article and the decline of the US Constitution abroad. Listen in to find out where forming democracies are looking for inspiration when drafting constitutions and how often a typical Constitution is written. Hint: It’s considerably less than the 225 years since our own was drafted.
Homophobia in Uganda
Although Ugandan member of Parliament David Bahati’s bill, commonly referred to as the “kill the gays” bill, failed two years ago, the homophobia that inspired it has festered and grown in Uganda, costing lives and livelihoods. And this past week, the bill came back. This week, we get the most up-to-date information on what’s going on in Uganda from Dr. Warren Throckmorton, an associate professor of Psychology at Grove City College and fellow for Psychology and Public Policy at the college’s Center for Vision and Values. Dr. Throckmorton explains what’s changed (or hasn’t changed) in Uganda since 2009, how international pressure might affect the bill’s chances and what lessons the international community can learn.
