For the past couple of weeks, all I have heard about in the news (as a result of the gay marriage debate) is separation of church and state. This leaves me with some questions. Which laws are higher in value? If the church must follow state law, when does it become an infringement on one's constitutional right to freedom of religion?

I ask these questions in reaction to a small article in The Daily Collegian on Wednesday that reported on a California court forcing a Catholic charity to provide birth control coverage as part of its benefit program ("Calif. high court rules Catholic charity must give birth-control coverage," March 3).

Being Catholic, I was appalled that the state courts would force such a decision on a charity that is strongly against birth control. The Catholic Church's stance on birth control is not an optional belief.

In the Catholic Church, use of birth control is a sin. This decision is forcing this charity to do something that, by them, is considered a sin. When will our country stop attempting to eliminate Christianity? Our Constitution gives us the right to freedom of religion, not freedom of religion except Christianity because it is too conservative.

A decision such as this one is a travesty and a violation of constitutional rights.