A JOINT ALERT ISSUED BY The Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Catholic Conference Religious Freedom and Conscience Rights in United States Seriously Threatened
In January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule forcing nearly all private health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, as well as surgical sterilization.
An exemption provided for "religious employers" is so narrow that it fails to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations, including Catholic, Baptist and Methodist hospitals, Christian and religious-based universities, and service organizations that help millions every year.
Non-profit religious employers that do not now provide such coverage, and are not exempt under the rule's extremely narrow definition of religious employer, will be given one year - until August 1, 2013 - to comply.
To correct the threats to religious liberty and rights of conscience by the Obama administration, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act has been introduced in Congress (H.R. 1179, S. 1467). This measure will ensure that those who participate in the health care system "retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions."
RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE
Fact Sheets listed below are from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops but they are excellent resources for people of ALL faith backgrounds.
TAKE ACTION: Click here for more information and to WRITE TO CONGRESS NOW
The Obama administration continues to violate our most basic religious freedoms. It is critical that our elected officials do everything they can to reign in the out-of-control executive branch of government.
Click the link above to email your representative and senators now and urge them to co-sponsor and strongly support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. (click here for more information)
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UPDATE Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb, 2/12/12: “The Obama administration’s rule change doesn’t change anything. The so-called ‘accommodation’ still forces people of faith to violate their religious beliefs and core values. The issue is whether the government will respect our God-given first freedom, religious liberty. If it does not, Christians will resist, and ADF will defend them.”