[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 43 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR VS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

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                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2016

  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I speak today in defense of the Little 
Sisters of the Poor in their stand for religious liberty in America. 
Next week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case 
between the Little Sisters of the Poor and the federal government. The 
Little Sisters' ministry is to care for the elderly poor all over the 
world. The Little Sisters here in the United States run a nonprofit to 
take care of America's elderly poor. They are now fighting the federal 
government in order to be able to preserve their ministry.
  The federal government's argument is this: The Little Sisters of the 
Poor must violate the tenets of their Catholic faith and authorize 
their third-party health care administrators to provide contraception, 
sterilization, and abortifacients to recipients of their health 
insurance. Never mind that the government has granted complete 
exemptions of this mandate to massive, secular companies such as Exxon 
and Pepsi. The government would rather force the Little Sisters of the 
Poor to reject their sincere and righteous religious beliefs than grant 
them a full exemption like larger, secular companies have received. The 
government would rather force the Little Sisters out into the streets 
when they can't pay the oppressive fines if they don't comply with this 
unjust mandate. It's morally disgusting, and it's insulting to any 
lover of freedom.
  I urge my colleagues to pray with me that the Supreme Court upholds 
religious freedom in America and sides with the Little Sisters of the 
Poor.

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