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After Pope Francis Met With Obama, He Made A Surprise Move That Pokes Obama Right In The Eye
Despite striking some bi-partisan notes during his Washington visit, Pope Francis made clear where he stands on the issue of religious liberty.
At his remarks at the White House Wednesday morning, the Pope said freedom of religion “remains one of America’s most precious possessions,” adding, “All are called to be vigilant precisely as good citizens to preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it.”
Following a reception at the White House and his presiding over mass at Catholic University in the afternoon, the pontiff made an unscheduled visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor in the nation’s capital.
The Vatican said the visit indicates that the Pope stands with the Little Sisters in their lawsuit against the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act contraception mandate. The mandate requires employers to not only provide birth control through their medical plans, but also abortion inducing drugs.
“This is a sign, obviously, of support for them,” said the Vatican Press Secretary, Rev. Federico Lombardi.
The Little Sisters communications director Sister Constance Veit told NBC News, Pope Francis’ visit “gave us a lot of moral support and confirmed we are on the right track with the lawsuit as far as the church is concerned while we wait to see if the Supreme Court will take the case.” She added: “It gave us a lot of energy and everyone was very fortified. It was a spiritual shot in the arm.”
The Obama administration has argued in the court case that its accommodation rule should address the religious liberty objections the Little Sisters and others have with the mandate, but the groups have countered that their insurance policies are still the means used to obtain abortions.
The Becket Fund For Religious Liberty, which is arguing the suit on behalf of the Little Sisters, has appealed to a Tenth Circuit Court that ruled in July to reject the group’s claim to the Supreme Court. Twenty states and numerous religious groups have filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting the Little Sisters.
Source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/after-pope-francis-met-with-obama-he-made-a-surprise-move-that-pokes-obama-right-in-the-eye/
