Sensenbrenner Responds to President's False "Compromise" on Religious Liberty

Statement

Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), former Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, issued this response to President Obama's announcement today to force religious organizations to facilitate a government mandate that violates core tenants of their faith:

"This so-called compromise is really not a compromise at all because it does not take away the mandate that infringes upon religious liberty. Today's decision is an attempt to alleviate the President's political problem, but the underlying contempt for protecting the right of conscience remains. The only acceptable way to protect religious liberty is for the President to admit that he and his Administration have made a mistake and to withdraw the mandate over religiously-affiliated institutions completely."

"The compromise actually increases the power of government to mandate further items through its control of insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Non-church affiliated employers who have moral objections to the mandate are also brought under this regulation's reach."

"To say that insurance companies will provide free contraceptives and abortifacients is like believing in the "Tooth Fairy.' We all know in reality, someone pays. And in this case, religious-affiliated organizations will foot the bill as the premiums go up to cover all of the government mandates."

"Furthermore, religious-based organizations that are self-insured will be forced to buy insurance coverage under this mandate, and they will end up paying indirectly to violate core tenants of their faith, rather than directly."

"Today's announcement is merely a smokescreen to hide the true intent of this regulation."

Source