First Amendment Rights

While attacks upon Christianity from the liberal left have occurred for some time now, the Obama Administration's assault on religious liberty in America now seems to be on steroids. The latest example is an announcement from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, on January 20th. Sebelius dictated that ALL private insurance plans must pay 100% of the cost of all FDA-approved birth control (including abortion-causing devices and drugs like the IUD, and 'morning-after' pills), along with surgical sterilization. This also applies to any health insurance provided by religious based employers like hospitals, colleges or universities, and other service organizations that help millions of people each year. While a clarification later exempted churches from this "law", are we so foolish to think that exemption will last? Since it is now illegal under Obamacare not to buy health insurance, and since insurers are forbidden from charging the users of these specific services a co-pay, EVERYONE who has health insurance will collectively bear the cost for practices that violate our religious beliefs. This is about so much more than government's claim of insuring that all women have free access to health care. And, it's about so much more than just a Catholic issue over contraception. This is an issue of the government violating the First Amendment of our United States Constitution and telling religious people they cannot practice their beliefs. IF the Obama Administration is allowed to force all employer's to not only pay for contraceptives, but abortion services through their health care plans, what else will the Obama Administration tell churches, religious organizations, and Christians they can/cannot do? Peggy Noonan from the Washington Post writes, "there was nothing for the President to gain (with this edict), except, perhaps, the pleasure of making a great church bow to him." And while the Administration has publicly said it is willing to work out the details of a compromise over the next year, this Administration's history demonstrates it's not going to budge in the next year. Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York said: "In effect, the President is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences." In other words, the President is saying, "get over it!" Even if the Administration changes it's mind on this issue, they've already revealed their true intentions.
So, there is no confusion, the opening words to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…." To those who say the church has no business meddling in politics, it is clear from the writings of the authors (check out The Federalist Papers), of the Constitution, they were more concerned about keeping the government out of religion than they were keeping religion out of government.
In a letter dated January 26th, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio stated, "We cannot - - we will not - - comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. Unless this rule is overturned," he writes, "we Catholics will be compelled to choose between violating our consciences or dropping health coverage for our employees (and then suffering the penalties for doing so)."
There reaches a point when free people must draw a line in the sand and say, "Enough is Enough!" Count me on the side of the Catholic Church and others who believe the Administration has once again ignored, stomped on, and marginalized our United States Constitution!