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November 28, 2011

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‘Another reason this tyrannical law is wrong’

OBAMACARE RULE STIFLES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

ATLANTA—  “The Obamacare law should be found unconstitutional  by the U.S. Supreme Court for several reasons, but one more is the fact that its stipulations deliberately attack the religious beliefs of Christian institutions and untold millions of Americans,” says Phil Kent, CEO of the American Seniors Association representing millions of members nationwide.

“The law gives the Department of Health and Human Services vast— and we believe unconstitutional— power to regulate insurance plans, while forcing individuals and companies to buy health insurance. In this context, the department has outlawed any plan that doesn’t fully cover the cost of all contraception, including ‘morning after’ pills that can also cause abortions,” Kent notes.

“The rule includes an exemption for ‘religious employers’ but critics say it defines ‘religious’ so narrowly that it applies to no one.  In fact, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops complains that not even the early ministry of Jesus Christ could qualify because it served and preached to non-Christians,” Kent said. “Now a religious school in North Carolina, a Roman Catholic college, says the religious conscience exemption doesn’t protect it, and the school will be forced to buy contraceptives for its students in violation of church teaching.”

“In a legal complaint filed in federal court, Belmont Abbey College contends that it is being persecuted and seeks to strike down the free pills mandate. The American Seniors Association, a strong opponent of Obamacare, naturally sympathizes with the college’s argument,” Kent says.

“This college is not imposing its beliefs on anyone else. And certainly everyone should respect the constitutional right of all faiths to freely exercise their religion.  But the college simply wants that constitutional right given to it as well— and so do millions of other Americans,” Kent said.

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