To the editor:

Everyone likes free stuff, but at what cost?

One of the provisions of our Constitution is to protect religious freedom.

The government has the responsibility to protect that freedom. We have a president who clearly stated before his election that the Constitution is outdated and states what the government can’t do, but not what it can do for you.

President Barack Obama calls the Constitution “a charter of negative liberties: (It) says what the states can’t do to you, says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf.”

One of our Supreme Court justices — Ruth Bader Ginsburg — shares Obama’s view and says she would not look to our Constitution today if she were drafting one and advocates changing it.

That is disturbing.

This president swore to uphold and protect our Constitution when he took office.

What is going on tramples on our freedoms that are protected by the Constitution and Obama is leading the way. He is not upholding the Constitution.

The government mandate to force a religious organization to provide free contraception and abortion pills, either directly or indirectly, through insurance, when it is contrary to a church doctrine, clearly violates the religious freedom that is supposed to be protected.

This is only one of many mandates the government is imposing on us.

Contraceptive pills and devices have been and are available to any individual.

This is not the issue. For those that can not afford to purchase, there are many governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations where contraceptive pills or devices can be obtained. Don’t let the issue be clouded.

Yes, we all would like to have free things, but what is the real cost? Curtailed freedom of practicing your religious beliefs.

People must wake up. Nothing is really free. Don’t sacrifice our freedoms a little at a time for “free” things resulting in more government control over you.

The cost for more and more “free” things is your freedom. Think about it.

John M. Fedchak

Oakville