Rick Warren, Bart Stupak and Obama – Do They All Agree?
by Nathan A. Cherry, 02/14/2012
Is Rick Warren going to jail?
Martinsburg, WV – Remember way back, what seems like forever ago, when “pro-life” Democrat Congressman Bart Stupak made an 11th hour deal with President Obama regarding Obamacare that secured Stupak’s vote and helped the unpopular socialistic bill pass? Stupak became the Benedict Arnold of the pro-life community and decided to retire rather than face a near impossible re-election campaign after his traitorous actions against the unborn. Stupak claimed Obamacare contained “conscience protections” for pro-life people, groups, organizations and businesses so he was confident in supporting Obama’s bill.
As I have previously written, conscience protections are under attack and in no way safe from the Obama administration’s desire to impose its will on everyone. And now it seems everyone from Rick Warren to Bart Stupak is realizing just how endangered our Constitutional rights are under the Obama administration.
If you haven’t seen the news lately you might be shocked to learn that President Obama has mandated that every employer offer health insurance to employees that include contraception, birth control, and abortion inducing drugs. This of course violates the pro-life conscience of many conservative and religious employers. Lifenews.com explains what is causing the massive backlash:
“The Obama Administration issued a statement re-iterating the ‘contraceptive mandate’ requiring all insurance providers cover the full range of FDA-approved drugs and devices would remain intact. This mandate, issued in August, includes drugs that work after conception to destroy life rather than prevent it. The statement included a postponement of one year for religious groups that do not already carry contraceptives and additionally would not be exempted under last year’s narrow definition of ‘religious employer.’”
The fact is, by demanding that any employer offer insurance with items like contraception, sterilization, abortion inducing drugs etc., they are being asked to violate their religious beliefs and their conscience. This is something our government has never demanded or asked of U.S. citizens, ever. And now the Obama administration is trying to force these employers to violate their religious convictions and consciences by offering such insurance; it’s an unprecedented attack on religious liberty and freedom.
Now, many outspoken advocates for life and even some that supported the Obamacare bill are speaking out against this affront to religious liberty and calling it what it is: an attack. Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life said this:
“It’s unthinkable that President Obama would force Americans of any faith to violate their consciences. Yet here he is, arrogantly imposing these regulations that clearly discriminate against Catholics and all Christians as well as people of any faith who believe in the sanctity of innocent human life. This has clearly become a human rights case — and is no longer just a partisan political football.”
Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church made it clear where he stands on the issue:
“I’m not a Catholic but I stand in 100% solidarity with my brothers & sisters to practice their belief against government pressure. I’d go to jail rather than cave in to a government mandate that violates what God commands us to do. Would you? Acts 5:29.”
Timothy Dolan, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued his strong sentiments:
“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences. To force Americans to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable. . . It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom.”
Pro-life leader Richard Land left no doubt where he stands on this issue:
“When it comes to abortifacients, and many birth-control methods are abortifacients,” Land said, this mandate is “reprehensible in its demands for people to violate their conscience. We are not going to do this. We have a First Amendment right to freedom of conscience, and we’re going to defend it. If we have to defend it by going to jail, so be it.”
And Becket Fund National Litigation Director Eric Rassbach said in a statement Wednesday:
“Why doesn’t the government just tell people where to get it? Why should there be some obsessive need to force religious objectors to be involved in this? If this were actually about access, the government would do just that. In reality, this is a cram-down of religious individuals and institutions.”
These statements are no doubt representative of a majority of Americans. Even without a pro-life conviction it is easy to see that the government is trying to force people to violate their conscience. This is not about partisan politics anymore, this is about freedom. No one should ever be made to violate their conscience by the government; and the Obama administration seems to be the first to be so arrogant as to think they can do such a thing.
I hope, however, that more evangelical leaders will rise up and speak out on this issue. The eerie silence from pastors across America is chilly considering this will directly impact every church and para-church organization. Just as many Catholic leaders have vocally opposed this mandate, America needs to hear from other pastors. If we refuse to stand up and speak out what’s next? Today it’s abortion in health insurance, tomorrow it will be public prayer, Bible reading, and the freedom to assemble. Waiting is no longer an option; silence is no longer an option.
Which freedoms are we willing to see taken before we are moved from our apathy?
Action Alert!
Sign a petition asking the Obama administration to eliminate the contraception mandate.
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