Congressman Turner Objects To Anti-Religious Healthcare Mandate

Statement

Congressman Turner released the following statement regarding the healthcare mandate recently enacted by the Department of Health and Human Services:

"Every person of faith, regardless of their religion, should be greatly concerned about this healthcare mandate which will force non-profit religious organizations to provide insurance coverage that is contrary to their beliefs. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule requiring private employers to provide free insurance coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptives. This contraceptive mandate includes devices and drugs that have abortion-causing properties, including IUDs and the "morning-after" pills Ella and Plan B.

"As a Catholic and an American who believes in religious freedom, the thought of the government forcing an organization to go against its very morals is appalling. Take a second to consider what might be next. This could open the door to further mandates that will force religious institutions to choose between providing care for people in a way that fits their values and beliefs or face penalties from the very government that was founded on protecting those values and beliefs.

"This new mandate is a violation of the First Amendment, which allows the free exercise of religion. It will have a profound impact on the future of religious practice in our country leading to government control over other areas of religious practice that may be too difficult to reverse.

"Allowing our government to discredit the rights and protections laid out in the Constitution is not something we can allow. This issue, which transcends partisan politics, is too important for us to ignore. That is why I co-sponsored H.R. 1179, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011, a bill which allows employers to decline coverage for specific items and services that are contrary to their religious beliefs.

"To require someone to violate the very tenets of their faith in order to comply with this mandate is unacceptable and must be reversed immediately. Our country is one of different ideas. To allow there to be a belief that one point of view should be allowed to force people of faith to go against their principles ignores our Constitution, and will mark a disturbing time in our nation's history.

"This mandate penalizes religious organizations simply because they choose to follow beliefs that are older than our country itself.

"Everyone of faith should be alarmed, for this very action might empower the government to believe that their ideas trump your values as well. That one day, you too will have to choose between caring for your fellow man the way you believe is right and being penalized for following your values."

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