FRC Statement in Response to Supreme Court Granting Temporary Injunction to Little Sisters of the Poor

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Jan 24, 2014, 06:25 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court issuing a temporary injunction in the case involving the Little Sisters of the Poor against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate.

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Of the Supreme Court's action Perkins said:

"We are pleased by the decision of the Supreme Court to protect the Little Sisters of the Poor against the HHS mandate while their case proceeds through the court system. The Little Sisters of the Poor should not be forced to violate their conscience as a condition of continuing their important work with the poor and the elderly. This temporary injunction stops HHS from forcing the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious beliefs, pay massive fines or drop coverage altogether.

"The HHS mandate's safe harbor for religious organizations expired on January 1, and the mandate already applies to businesses run from a faith perspective. These employers must now choose between violating their faith, paying crippling fines of up to $100 per day per employee or dropping healthcare coverage for their employees altogether.

"It is a long-held American tradition that we respect people's freedom of conscience. The HHS mandate threatens charities and non-profit institutions which serve the less fortunate each day. Despite this injunction, the HHS mandate is unfair and should be repealed," concluded Perkins.

SOURCE Family Research Council