Utilitarianism

Tania Rodriguez
Ethics
Professor: D. Elosegui
Utilitarianism
“Utilitarianism, ethical principle according to which an action is right if it tends to maximize happiness not only that of the agentbut also of everyone affected. Thus, utilitarians focus on the consequences of an act rather than on its intrinsic nature or the motives of the agent.”-Merriam Webster, Encyclopaedia BritannicaConcise. At first I did not understand well the meaning of the word “Utilitarianism” until I read the definition more than three times, and I thought about the case in which Miami Catholic Church filed alawsuit against President Barack Obama’s Health Care Reform. The moral issue in this case is that the Catholic Church claims that the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare” violates the religious freedom ofthe First Amendment by forcing the church to give health insurance covering contraceptives to church’s employees. I consider myself one of the supporters of the Affordable Care Act, and I belief thatit does not violate any freedom of religion but ensures the good health of every employee in the nation.
Obamacare's mandate that employers' health insurance should cover contraceptives will helpevery employee in the country. For example, it will prevent unwanted pregnancies; thus, it will lower the numbers of abortions. Contraceptives such as condoms also prevent many diseases transmitted bysexual intercourse such as HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Also, female condoms can reduce the risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. The Affordable Care Act’s requirement of coveringcontraceptive help American female employees rather than intrude upon their religious belief because it is up to them to use, but at least, they are covered.
Likewise, President Obama’s Health Care Reform’sobligation of covering contraceptives in the health insurance plans will help the all employers all over United States without interfering with their religions beliefs. Employers will not be...