Family Research Council: Newland Family Offered Temporary Protection from Obama's Abortion Drug Mandate

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Jul 27, 2012, 06:17 ET

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today a U.S. District Court in Colorado issued a preliminary injunction requested by the Newland family, owners of Hercules Industries, in its lawsuit against the Obama administration's abortaficient and contraceptive mandate. The Alliance Defending Freedom is representing the family in Newland v. Sebelius.

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Of the injunction, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments:

"We are pleased that the court is offering temporary protection for the Newland family, ensuring that, for now, the family will not be forced to violate their religious beliefs as demanded by President Obama's abortion drug and contraceptive mandate. While this ruling is a victory, it is limited to the Newland family which underscores why Congress must act soon to protect all families.

"Thousands – if not hundreds of thousands of dollars – in fines await any company that ignores the President's decree. For the Newlands, and other families like them, the effect on business could be back-breaking new taxes. For the first time in history, the government would become a vehicle for punishing business owners who apply their faith to their professional lives.

"Unfortunately, the Obama administration is so hostile to Christians and beholden to the abortion movement that it fails to see the profoundly human element of this mandate and how it impacts everyday life for millions of Americans. The Newlands are the face of family businesses across America which, next week, will be the casualties of an unprecedented war on religious freedom."

Ken Klukowski, J.D., director of FRC's Center for Religious Liberty, added:

"While this is only the first round of litigation, this is a significant win as it reaffirms that millions of Americans cannot be coerced by the federal government into violating their religious faith.

"Religious liberty goes far beyond merely the 'freedom of worship'—an alarmingly narrow term the Obama administration has adopted—to include peacefully living out your faith in every area of life. For private business owners, that includes their right to showcase their faith through their business policies."

SOURCE Family Research Council