FRONT ROYAL, Virginia - Human Life International President Father Shenan J. Boquet released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Senate's rejection of the "Blunt Amendment" proposed by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) to exempt employers with moral objections from the Obama administration's birth control/abortifacient mandate:
"What we saw in the Senate today was a rejection of the First Amendment by 51 politicians who all took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. With their vote today, these 51 Senators sent a message that they reject religious liberty for the American people.
"Just as troubling as affirming a rejection of religious liberty is that these Senators voted for an attack on life. We cannot forget that President Obama's heinous mandate on employers, enacted through Obamacare, will provide 'free' funding of potentially abortion-causing drugs such as the 'emergency contraceptive' Ella.
"We should never be asked, much less forced, to compromise our faith, nor should we be forced to fund the destruction of innocent human life. Human Life International will proudly stand with other organizations and persons of conscience in resisting President Obama's unjust mandate."
The full roll call of the vote, including the 51 Senators who voted against the "Blunt Amendment," can be found on the U.S. Senate website.
About HLI: Human Life International: For the Glory of God and defense of Life, Faith and Family. Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest international pro-life and pro-family organization, with affiliates and associates in over 100 countries on six continents. www.hli.org
