Obama’s war on religion (update #8)

Obama's War on Religion

Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the constitutionality of ObamaCare. Speculation has been rampant for months on the government’s authority to force people to purchase services under the commerce clause.

To the surprise of almost everyone, the Supreme Court saw ObamaCare as a massive new TAX. As a TAX, it passes constitutional muster based on the government’s unlimited authority to TAX.

This piece continues my series on the very real war on religion. My last summary was 1 month ago. This is the latest update. To see the whole series, click here.

What the Supreme Court did not decide

It is imperative that we understand the narrow scope of the Supreme Court’s decision. Specifically:

  • This case did not consider, in any way, the constitutionality of the HHS Mandate to force almost everyone, including the Catholic Church and its members, to purchase abortion inducing drugs, sterilizations, and contraceptive insurance coverage.
  • The Supreme Court did NOT rule that ObamaCare was in any way a “good idea,” merely that as a TAX it was not unconstitutional.

Where do we stand?

Nothing has changed. The numerous lawsuits brought by various Catholic dioceses and institutions remain full-steam-ahead. They are now more urgent than ever. We eagerly look forward to our day in court on this issue. ObamaCare enables the HHS mandate, which represents a major assault on freedom of religion. This is a completely different issue than what the Supreme Court decided yesterday.

Of course, we are disappointed. Had ObamaCare not been seen as a TAX (which admittedly, it actually is), it likely would have been overturned. That would have made the HHS mandate moot and our struggle to retain the religious freedom we have enjoyed for over 200 years intact.

Success in court is not the only way religious liberty can be restored. The other way is through legislative action. President Obama has been intransigent on this and with the Senate controlled by his party, legislative relief is impossible. Today’s decision therefore means that…

November 6th is now a REFERENDUM on ObamaCare

The decision to accept this controversial freedom crushing, pro-abortion healthcare law now goes to the voters. YOU decide. Cast your vote for president Obama and his party if you support this deeply flawed law. If you oppose the law and recognize that improving healthcare access does not have to be at the cost of religious liberty and innocent life, vote against President Obama and his enabling party. It really is that simple.

Fortnight for Freedom continues

Religious liberty has been a part of the American experience since before the United States even became an independent country. However, approaches to religious liberty have developed over time, as Catholics and people of other faiths have faced discrimination in various forms. Fortunately, there have been many heroes of religious liberty that span centuries.

Importantly, the First Amendment has protected the free exercise of religion since the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789. While the HHS mandate forcing coverage of sterilization, contraception, and abortion-inducing drugs represents a significant threat to religious liberty, Catholics and others have endured religious crises throughout our country’s history.

Our bishops call to action continues through July 4th. Read the articles below to find out more about our country’s historic challenges, and view their educational resources page to find out more about current threats to religious liberty both at home and abroad.

Fortnight For Freedom 2015

What is at stake

The administration and their friends in the media try to spin this issue as either (1) the Church taking away everyone’s contraception or (2) a “war on women.” They know this to be false. In jeopardy is something much, much greater – with the unprecedented loss of religious freedom we would also irrevocably lose the very character of the country. This radical change sacrifices the birthright of future Americans.

Evangelical Eric Metaxas is the author of the new book on Dietrich Bonhoeffer how is remembered for his effort to overthrow Hitler. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse is an economist and founder for the Ruth Institute which promotes families through the sanctity of marriage.

Protecting Religious Freedom

The Becket Fund released this new video on the good work they do:

Further Reading

Here is a sampling of some new articles written on this topic in the last few weeks:

  1. Activists gather to plot defense of “religious liberty”
  2. Archbishop Chaput speaks about religious liberty at Catholic Media Conference address
  3. Archbishop Gomez rejects ‘capitulation’ to HHS mandate
  4. Archbishop: Lawsuits Continue Against Health Care Law
  5. Archbishop Lori Opens Fortnight for Freedom at Baltimore Basilic
  6. Archbishop Lori kicks-off Fortnight for Freedom with call to action
  7. As Fortnight of Freedom begins, media responds
  8. At the Door of the Temple: Religious Freedom and the New Orthodoxy
  9. Becket Fund Submits Comments to HHS
  10. Bishops respond to Supreme Court ruling; renew plea to repair Affordable Care Act
  11. Bishops urge Congress to fix health law flaws after high court decision
  12. Catholic lawmaker seeks colleagues’ support for HHS mandate suits
  13. Churches Stand Together
  14. Colleen Carroll Campbell: How religion fosters freedom
  15. DC religious freedom event stresses role of liberty in America
  16. Early Religious Freedom in America
  17. Eric Rassbach Talks Religious Freedom at the Council of Europe
  18. Essential reading for the Fortnight for Freedom kick-off
  19. Faith leaders decry mandate’s creation of religious classes
  20. Faithful Catholic Colleges Urge HHS to Rescind “Direct Violation” of Religious Liberty
  21. ‘Fortnight’ about religious freedom, not politics, archbishop says
  22. Fortnight for Freedom: U.S. Catholics and Religious Liberty
  23. Fortnight for Freedom: Why Now?
  24. Fortnight for Freedom in a Country Parish
  25. Fortnight for Freedom in (your) photos
  26. Fox’s Chris Wallace Asks Cardinal About MRC’s Finding of a Near-Blackout of Evening News on Catholic Lawsuits
  27. Groups Vow to Continue Fighting for Religious Liberty as Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act
  28. Groups opposed to contraception mandate will push forward with lawsuits
  29. Gut Check for Freedom
  30. Health care decision: Religious reaction swift; Catholic groups: lawsuits will continue
  31. Hooked on Sex
  32. How Will the Supreme Court’s Decision Impact the HHS Mandate?
  33. If Only We Weren’t Catholic…
  34. In the Teeth of an Election Year
  35. Individual Mandate Survives – Religious Liberty Challenges Move Forward
  36. It’s Time to Remember What Men Have Forgotten
  37. Key Quotes from Today’s Decision that Signal the Court’s Willingness to Strike Down the HHS Mandate
  38. Launching the Fortnight for Freedom
  39. Leaked e-mail shows media campaign against US bishops
  40. Liberty for the Church
  41. Morr-Fitz v. Blagojevich (2005-Current)
  42. Mother Church and the Nanny State
  43. Obama is paying for betraying progressive Catholics
  44. Obamacare Is Not Permanent Yet. Not Nearly.
  45. Obamacare’s Legal Battles Continue in HHS Mandate Cases
  46. Obama’s grand miscalculation with Catholics
  47. Purpose and Liberty
  48. Rallies Call for Standing Up for Religious Freedom
  49. Refusing to Render Unto Caesar That Which is God’s
  50. Religious Freedom Under Siege: The Bishops Respond
  51. Religious Freedom: Use It or Lose It
  52. Religious Groups Still Oppose Health Law
  53. Religious Liberty: Our Birthright
  54. Religious freedom issues at heart of HHS lawsuits, legal scholars say
  55. Religious liberty group launches massive HHS mandate site
  56. Religious liberty threatened in America, Archbishop Gomez warns
  57. Social Justice Priorities: Life and Religious Liberty
  58. Southern Baptists “Stand With the Bishops” Against the White House
  59. Supreme Knight says HHS mandate has re-shaped country’s political landscape
  60. Supreme Knight urges Catholics to put faith first while voting
  61. The Catholic Church and the Global Crisis of Religious Liberty
  62. The Church Pushes Back
  63. The “Episcopal Partisanship” Red Herring
  64. The Fortnight, The Pill, and the False Dichotomy
  65. The HHS Mandate: A Question of Religious Freedom or the Life Issues?
  66. The HHS Mandate: This is About Contraception
  67. The Sons of Caesar, Still Pulling Peter Down
  68. US health care reform efforts through history
  69. Washington rally brings 2,000 together in support of religious freedom
  70. What SCOTUS’s Decision Means for the Pro-life Cause
  71. What’s Behind the HHS Mandate?

Share Your Thoughts

show