Editor:

This is in response to Katya Holon’s letter to the editor published March 23.

If you choose to work for a Catholic institution, or go to a Catholic school, you should know of the Church’s position on certain things, including birth control, beforehand. If you do not, then shame on you for not doing your homework. Arguing that once you have accepted a job, or been accepted by a school, you should be able to insist that they cover any medical condition you dictate is ridiculous.

Every employer in this country offers options for health insurance for its employees. In most cases, you do not have the luxury of picking your own insurance and then bringing it to them for approval. You choose from those options they give you. Why should it be any different for the Catholic Church? They are not required to offer you everything you want, and if it goes against their moral teachings to offer birth control, then they have the right to deny you that coverage.

Also, the whole argument that women are being denied the right to get birth control is a false argument. Every woman in this country has the ability to get birth control if she wants it. If you cannot afford to buy it, you can go to Planned Parenthood or any county clinic and get it for free.

Ms. Holon’s statement that Mr. Horan might be implying that everyone has to abide by the dictates of the Catholic Church is again misleading. The Church is simply saying that based on its moral tenets, it does not choose to provide birth control because by doing so it would be going against the core of its belief system.

It’s true that many Catholic women choose to use birth control regardless of what the Church says. However, because the Church won’t provide it for them does not mean that they are harmed in any way. Birth control is available to any woman who wants it or needs it for medical reasons.

There is no war on women, and even if there were, why do so many of you cry foul instead of standing up and showing your strength? When did so many of you become these weak, helpless, dependent crybabies? I remember when the women’s movement first began in the late ’60s, early ’70s, and it was all about empowerment and self-reliance. As Helen Reddy said, “I can do anything.” Whatever happened to that spirit?

Instead of crying in your $3 lattes, for heaven’s sake (no pun intended) use that money to buy your own pills and stop looking for everyone else to take care of you. Be strong!

Kritin Villyard, Brentwood