FRC Action Criticizes Senate Vote Opposing Blunt Amendment to Preserve Religious Liberty

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council Action (FRC Action), the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, criticized the U.S. Senate vote today against Senator Roy Blunt's "Respect for the Rights of Conscience Act of 2011" amendment. The amendment would have restored the status quo on conscience rights prior to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and protect against the recent mandate on abortifacients, sterilization and contraceptives by the Obama administration's Department of Health and Human Services.

FRC Action will score the vote in its annual scorecard.

Of the vote, FRC Action President Tony Perkins said:

"Today, 51 senators, led by Sen. Harry Reid, sacrificed the Constitutional right of religious liberty on the altar of the Obama administration's radical big-government agenda. They turned a deaf ear to the very real religious and moral objections of millions of Americans and the First Amendment rights of all.

"We thank Democrat Senators Joe Manchin, Robert Casey and Ben Nelson for standing up to their caucus and fighting for religious liberty. Their vote for Sen. Blunt's bill, along with support from Republican Senators ranging from pro-life Senator Kelly Ayotte to pro-abortion Senator Susan Collins showed that this is not about women's health but about whether the government can violate religious liberties.

"The President and Congress need to wake up and realize that they have run into an immovable wall of principle that religious liberties are still in fact fundamental rights in this country. No political machinations they attempt will surmount the unshakeable religious and moral convictions of those of us opposing this government mandate.

"We urge the House of Representatives to pass Congressman Jeff Fortenberry's legislation and send it back to the Senate as Americans increasingly realize that their fundamental religious liberties are being threatened."

SOURCE FRC Action