Ted Poe: “We hear about religious persecution throughout the Third World, but there is an anti-religious movement right here in…”

“We hear about religious persecution throughout the Third World, but there is an anti-religious movement right here in the United States. The Catholic Church is being persecuted by this government. Our great country was founded on the principle of religious liberty. This right is in the First Amendment, and the provisions of the First Amendment are listed first because they are the most important. Yet, the administration is chipping away at this cornerstone of our society by violating the religious liberty of those who hold fast to certain positions of their faith, in particular, those of the Catholic Church. The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that religious organizations will be forced to provide their employees with medical insurance that covers free contraceptives and sterilizations. While houses of worship are exempt, religiously affiliated organizations such as hospitals, universities, and charities are mandated to comply with this government edict. This goes against the basic tenets of the Catholic religion, as well as other faiths, Christian and non-Christian. The administration believes that it's enough to give religious organizations 1 year's notice to comply with this government oppression. But there will never be enough time for the church to change its core principles.…”