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Americans Religious Freedom Under Siege
B. Christopher Agee, Western Journalism — ObamaCare is an objectively unpopular law among millions of Americans, sparking countless conversations about its potential to curtail constitutional rights. Perhaps the law’s most troubling aspect, however, is the mandate that employers provide contraception – and what some consider abortifacient drugs – in their employee health insurance plans.The owners of two companies leading the fight against this requirement are presenting their case before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. The Christian family behind Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corporations’ Mennonite owners argue that their religious beliefs prohibit them from complying with the healthcare law.
As part of their argument, the companies have asserted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 should protect them from violating the tenets of their faith.
Hobby Lobby presented a brief to the court detailing the company’s stance.
“Ultimately,” the document stated, “whether it is the individuals, the corporations, or both who are exercising religion, the government cannot simply wish away the reality that its policies substantially burden Respondents’ religious exercise in a wholly unjustified manner.”
The federal government, however, has determined the statute only applies to individuals.
U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. claimed in his brief that “respondents must stretch every operative provision of RFRA well beyond what Congress could reasonably have intended” to arrive at their stated position.
The libertarian Cato Institute weighed in with its own brief, explaining the impact the court’s ruling in this case will have.
“This is an important case because the corporate form is an essential tool for operating successfully in the complex modern economy and the right to exercise one’s religion,” the organization contended, calling it “an essential right in a free nation” even in the operation of one’s business.
Of course, leftist groups including gay rights activists and Planned Parenthood warn a ruling in favor of religious freedom would open the door for discrimination.
Dozens of other companies across the U.S. have objected to the mandate, and the Supreme Court’s decision in this case will provide context for other cases currently under consideration. For countless believers, along with those who simply oppose the federal government’s intrusion, this case will hopefully offer some much-needed support for the liberties they feel are under siege. » Full Article
About the Author
An award-winning journalist, B. Christopher Agee spent more than a decade building a career in newspaper and radio. He is currently the senior staff writer at Western Center for Journalism. Chris is the author of two books and is a frequent guest on talk radio shows across the U.S. He lives with his wife, Nancy, in Phoenix, Arizona. » Full Bio» B. Christopher Agee | Article Archive
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WORLD VISION USA TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO ENTER INTO SAME-SEX ‘MARRIAGES’
‘News From An Uncompromising Biblical Worldview’
“World Vision also undermines religious liberty by signaling that immoral laws that defy God’s law are more binding than Scripture—unilaterally throwing up the white flag of surrender on freedom of conscience.”
AUTHOR, Christian News Network — One of America’s largest Christian charities announced on Monday that it has altered its employee handbook to allow staff members to enter into same-sex ‘marriages’ as long as they profess to be Christians.World Vision, a Washington-based organization that has been assisting the poor and orphaned worldwide for over 60 years, stated that it decided to change its policy to bring “unity” among Christians. President Richard Stearns told Christianity Today that he wants to avoid the division over homosexuality that has been “tearing churches apart.”
“Changing the employee conduct policy to allow someone in a same-sex marriage who is a professed believer in Jesus Christ to work for us makes our policy more consistent with our practice on other divisive issues,” he stated. “It also allows us to treat all of our employees the same way: abstinence outside of marriage, and fidelity within marriage.”
Stearns denied that he was under any pressure to make the policy change, and asserted that the organization was not caving into the homosexual agenda by allowing employees to enter into same-sex “marriages.”
“This is not us compromising. It is us deferring to the authority of churches and denominations on theological issues. We’re an operational arm of the global church, we’re not a theological arm of the church,” he stated. “This is simply a decision about whether or not you are eligible for employment at World Vision U.S. based on this single issue, and nothing more.”
However, some have expressed great disappointment in the decision, regardless of Stearns’ contentions that he is not compromising his faith. Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality wrote in a press release on Tuesday that World Vision has actually caused division and confusion through its policy change.
“World Vision now puts hundreds of thousands of biblically faithful and compassionate Christians in a bind: they want to keep supporting poor children through World Vision sponsorships, but they do not want to give their money to a charity that actively undermines God’s Word through its policies,” he explained. “Many Christians will abandon World Vision and children will suffer.”
LaBarbera stated that the policy is also harmful to World Vision employees.
“World Vision does a great spiritual disservice to its ‘gay married’ employees. By implying that unrepentant, practicing homosexuals can be faithful servants of Jesus Christ while living openly in grave sexual sin and mocking true marriage, World Vision becomes an impediment to their repentance before God,” he said. “Salvation requires humbly acknowledging and turning away from sin, just as genuine marriage requires two people of the opposite sex joining to produce a natural family.”
He also asserted that instead of avoiding the discussion over homosexual “marriage,” World Vision has now fueled the fire for the furtherance of the homosexual agenda.
“By recognizing homosexual ‘marriages’ in its hiring practices and treating them like actual marriages, World Vision has not only entered the debate over this issue but greatly advanced the LGBT agenda by lending ‘Christian’ credibility to ‘gay’ activists’ misleading ‘marriage equality’ propaganda,” LaBarbera stated. “World Vision also undermines religious liberty by signaling that immoral laws that defy God’s law are more binding than Scripture—unilaterally throwing up the white flag of surrender on freedom of conscience.”
World Vision was founded in 1950 by Bob Pierce and estimates assisting over 70 million people worldwide each year. As previously reported, according to the latest report available, Stearns makes over $379,000 a year as president of the organization. » Full Article
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