Doheny Urges Opponent to Protect the First Amendment

“Thomas Jefferson once said: ‘No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.’

“Our congressman seems not to agree with Jefferson. He believes government should be able to dictate terms to our religious organizations, regardless of whether that interferes with their Constitutional right to free exercise.

“The government has decided to force religious organizations to offer health plans that include birth control services contrary to their beliefs. This violates the First Amendment.

“Congress now must step in. I urge my opponent to support Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s ‘Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011,’ or legislation similar to Sen. Marco Rubio’s ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012,’ which may soon come from Speaker John Boehner and Rep. Fred Upton.”