Ayotte: We Must Respect Conscience Rights For All Religions

Statement

At a Capitol Hill press conference today, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) called on President Obama to reverse a recently announced mandate in his health care law that would require religious institutions to provide health insurance coverage for medical services that violate their religious beliefs. The requirement stands to impact religious schools, charities, hospitals and other faith-based organizations starting in 2013.

Emphasizing that the administration's move is fundamentally a religious freedom issue, she echoed concerns that have been raised by New Hampshire citizens and leaders of religious-based institutions.

"We have seen with the president's health care bill, and the regulations recently issued by Health and Human Services, an unprecedented affront to religious liberty. If religious institutions and faith-based organizations are forced to comply with government mandates that violate core principles of their faith, it violates our First Amendment to the Constitution. That's contrary to what we stand for as Americans," Ayotte said after the press conference.

She continued: "This is a religious liberty issue that has nothing to do with women's rights. It applies to all faiths. I've heard from New Hampshire citizens who are deeply concerned about the administration's decision. We need to respect rights of conscience for all religions. I call on the president to overturn the HHS regulation and to stop infringing on religious freedom."

During her remarks, Ayotte also noted that the Obama administration's move violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993: "What this administration has done violates the spirit and the letter of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law by President Clinton."

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