2009-08-17
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 17, 2009
CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Maria Donovan, (866) FRC-NEWS
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins Asks: Is This What President Obama Means by 'Robust' Conscience Protections?
August 17, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC - Earlier this month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that Belmont Abbey College, a Roman-Catholic institution, must provide insurance coverage for abortion and contraceptives.
The ruling goes against the college's Catholic doctrine and also violates North Carolina state law which provides for exemption to for religious entities. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins had this to say:
"The EEOC has succeeded in threatening every college, university and church that provides medical services with litigation in the event that those institutions refuse to buckle-under to Washington's abrasive intrusions. This outrageous attack on the historic and clearly articulated convictions of a religious college demonstrate a growing effort on the part of the radical left to impose their anti-faith agenda on people who hold convictions contrary to those of the secular elite.
"Belmont Abbey's president has said the school would close before offering abortion services or referrals or dispensing contraceptives. He is a profile in courage, and FRC commends him for his brave and principled stance.
"President Barack Obama claimed that he would ensure 'robust' protection to the conscience rights of America's health care works and religious institutions. He claimed this as he was in the process of overturning Bush-era Health and Human Services protections. The EEOC, following his lead, is moving aggressively against the very religious liberty many of our forebears came to these shores to find. It is my hope he will publicly call on the EEOC to retract its ruling and stand for religious and personal freedom for all Americans," Perkins concluded.