"In its decision in the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Products cases, the Court properly concluded that religious conscience of closely held businesses is to be protected from government coercion. Further, the Court determined that the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate is improper as it forces a closely held company to pay for coverage of products and services that violate the owners’ firmly held religious beliefs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under authority provided in the Affordable Care Act, mandated coverage of sterilization, contraception and abortion-causing drugs in most employer health insurance plans....
"The Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania express the hope that, in light of this ruling, the Obama Administration will do the right thing and withdraw the mandate as it has been applied to religious ministries. That step will bring to an end litigation which religious ministries were forced to undertake to protect their religious conscience and to assure that statutory and constitutional protections would not be trampled" (Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, 6/30/14).
As per the Family Research Council, immediate action is now needed on the misleadingly named Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014" (According to Senator Patty Murray's web site, "Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) are introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives." Numbers do not yet seem to be available for either the senate or house versions.):
"The Senate plans to vote as early as Tuesday on a bill offered by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that would 'overturn' the Supreme Court's ruling in Hobby Lobby and force all private and employer based healthcare plans to cover contraceptives, drugs which can destroy a human embryo and sterilization services, without copay-or face cripplingfines.
"The Supreme Court correctly held that the HHS mandate violates the free exercise rights of family businesses like Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties, who do not want to violate their conscience in order to earn a living. But that hasn't stopped Senator Murray, pushed by radical groups like NARAL, Planned Parenthood and National Women's Law Center, to demand religious American's bow to their pro-abortion agenda.
"But this bill is not only anti-religious and anti-constitutional-its anti-woman!
"Nearly one-third of the business plaintiffs in these cases calling the HHS mandate on religious liberty grounds are women. In addition, women judges have voted to halt implementation of the mandate 24 times. In only 15 cases have they voted in favor of the employer mandate. Finally, more women oppose the mandate than support it in poll after poll across the UnitedStates.
"How can Senator Murray and this bill's supporters claim to be supporting women when they are directly opposing the sincerely held religious beliefs of so many American women?
"Please urge your Senator to oppose the misleadingly titled 'Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014.' This discriminatory bill runs contrary to the values Americans hold dear and the ruling the Supreme Court handed down earlier this month."
Click https://www.votervoice.net/FRCA/campaigns/36667/respond for help with contacting Senator Casey and Senator Toomey.
No comments:
Post a Comment