On the recordMarch 24, 2014
Thank you, Congresswoman. It is a pleasure and honor to join you tonight. I will keep my comments short. You have heard the words here tonight. You have heard the words ``religion tax.'' You have heard the words ``religious litmus test.'' You certainly heard the words ``religious liberty.'' Of course, we also heard that the principles of the First Amendment have to do with religious liberty and religious freedom. I was on the floor the day after the Supreme Court decision on the President's health care law, and I would like to issue a challenge to what is generally considered the swing vote of this current court, the Chief Justice himself. When I spoke about this issue, court challenges were already coming forward on this HHS mandate, but knowing that the Chief Justice is a Roman Catholic, I issue a strong challenge to the Chief Justice. Given the history of the Catholic Church in this country, it has been one of severe discrimination at times. I would ask the Chief Justice-- the deciding vote--to consider his core convictions. I believe he bears a particular burden to protect the religious liberties of employers and their employees from the excesses of his very own constitutional creation. The court asked to be in the middle of this position. They asked for the government to have the right to tell businesses what to do, whether for profit or nonprofit or businesses or non-businesses as well. What is at stake here is not the choice of businesses alone.…
