US Senate Defeats “Blunt Amendment” Protecting Religious Liberty

March 1, 2012

The US Senate voted 51-48 this morning to kill the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act,” also known as the “Blunt Amendment.”  This critically important legislation would have protected religious individuals and institutions from the Obama Administration’s “contraceptive mandate.”

The President of the United States and a majority of US senators believe that Catholic institutions should be forced to purchase health plans for their employees that will provide them with free abortion inducing drugs, sterilizations, and contraceptives.  Today’s vote should be a wake-up call, if one is needed at this late hour, to the assault on religious liberty that is well underway.

The Kansas Catholic Conference thanks Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Jerry Moran for voting to restore freedom of conscience, the birthright of all Americans.