[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE

  (Mr. GRIMM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. GRIMM. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a pro-life Catholic and as 
an American deeply concerned with the administration's ruling as part 
of the health care law to require the Catholic Church, Christian and 
other religious-affiliated organizations to offer health insurance that 
covers contraceptives and sterilizations, even though it is clearly in 
violation of their beliefs and the fundamental teachings of the church.
  I stand with Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. 
Conference of Catholic Bishops, when he said, ``In effect, the 
President is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our 
consciences'' and turn our backs on thousands of years of church 
teachings.
  Religious liberty has been sewn into the fabric of our exceptional 
Nation. The ability to exercise our religious beliefs free of 
government interference was part of the very reason our Founders came 
to America and is the very first right mentioned in the Bill of Rights.
  The current administration's efforts to challenge the conscience and 
reproductive rights of the Catholic Church, or any other religion, will 
not and should not be tolerated. I urge the President to reconsider 
this rule and restore the church's religious freedom.

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