[Update 2/10/12] Obama attempts a bait and switch game, the con fails with religious groups, pro-life groups and others, who see through his game and he alienates Hispanics. BONUS: Nebraska, Texas and South Carolina Attorney Generals announce they will sue the Obama administration over this violation of religious freedom rights if he does not back off.
Original post below:
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has filed lawsuits against Obama's s abortion drug and contraception mandate, first on behalf of Belmont Abbey College, a Catholic liberal arts college founded by Benedictine monks, and Colorado Christian University, an evangelical college located outside of Denver. Another has been added, via The Foundry, "this morning, the Becket Fund sued the Obama Administration again, this time on behalf of Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the Catholic television network that was started nearly 30 years ago by a cloistered nun named Mother Angelica in her monastery garage."
According to its press release, the network objects to paying for—and refuses to pay for—“contraceptive services and for drugs that destroy human life”:
“The federal government cannot force people to violate their religion like this,” said Mark Rienzi, Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund and a constitutional law professor at the Catholic University of America. “Mother Angelica founded EWTN to spread the teachings of the Catholic Church—not to betray them.”
EWTN claims it is “the largest religious media network in the world” and transmits programming “24 hours a day to more than 148 million homes in 144 countries and territories.” If EWTN wasn’t already covering the Obama Administration’s “unprecedented” assault on religious freedom before, it seems likely that viewers will be provided ample coverage in the days to come.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty's announcements and press releases can be found HERE and HERE.
It is not only Catholics and conservatives coming out publicly against Barack Obama on this issue, other religious groups have joined with Catholics speaking out against Obama violating religious freedom and Democratic lawmakers are also distancing themselves and openly rebelling.
Tim Kaine, who said of the policy, "They made a bad decision in not allowing a broad enough religious employer exemption."
[SNIP]
- Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, who won re-election in 2010 by less than 1,000 votes, has said, "I just don't think this is a fight that should have been picked and I think it needs to be fixed."
- West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who is facing re-election this year, labeled the policies "un-American" and a "direct affront to the religious freedoms protected under the First Amendment."
- Democrats Sen. Robert Casey and Rep. John Larson have also urged the White House last week to revisit the policy to allow broader exceptions for religious institutions.
- Former Democratic nominee for vice-president and now independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, who caucuses with Senate Democrats, yesterday Tweeted, "I am opposed to the Administration's new requirement that religious org.'s must offer employees contraception benefits," later adding, "Government should not compel religious organization's to provide services contrary to their beliefs."
- Illinois Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski labeled the policy "a violation of conscience rights," adding, "this is the first time I've been really shocked that something is being forced, that people are forced to do something they don't believe in."
Added to the growing list is former Democratic lawmaker, Kathy Dahlkemper, claiming she "would have never voted for the final version of the bill if I expected the Obama Administration to force Catholic hospitals and Catholic Colleges and Universities to pay for contraception."
The ongoing furor and PR nightmare for Barack Obama over his war on religious freedom has been covered by Wake up America in two separate pieces linked below:
Catholic Churches And Bishop of Marquette Punch Back At Obama's War On Religion
Catholic League Prepared To Fight Back Against Obama's War On Religion
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