By Christen Varley

Between the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, one would have thought the issue of the separation between church and state was settled. It seems the current administration does not think so.

As a person of faith, I take great exception to the rule enacted by the Department of Health and Human Services as part of the Affordable Care Act that forces individual and institutional employers to purchase health insurance for employees which provides free abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization procedures and contraceptive medications. As someone who began my activism in the tea party movement and looks at every rule and law through a prism of constitutionality and the role of government, I am incensed. No government entity in the United States of America has the ability to force any citizen to act against the beliefs and teachings of their religious faith. In fact, our constitution specifically forbids it.

The First Amendment to our Constitution begins “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Reducing opposition to the so called contraception mandate to a discussion on the cost of birth control is akin to believing a block of ice floating in the ocean is of no consequence to passing ships. This rule represents not the tip of the iceberg but rather, a lethal mass hidden, in this case, under reams of legislative legalese and bureaucratic red tape. Requiring religious institutions to act against their faith or face punitive penalties is unconstitutional. Denying a centuries-old definition of what is a religious institution in service to the whims of a temporary administration is unconscionable.

The debate over the mandate has less to do with what is mandated and more to do with who is mandated. Supporters’ claims that an overwhelming majority of American women use birth control, abortifacient-drugs and avail themselves of sterilization procedures simply debunks their accompanying claims that these “health care” services are difficult to access. Their rhetoric and fear-mongering is simply not factual. What is factual is that, when polled, a majority of Americans believe religious freedom trumps access to free contraception, abortifacients and sterilization.

In addition to the ridiculous assertions that contraception is now a “civil right”, there is the unprecedented redefinition of religious institution. The exemption offered by the administration offers relief only to those “religious values inculcating” houses of worship that fit their strict definition. Parochial schools, charity organizations, and hospitals and clinics nationwide have been redefined as secular institutions, forcing them, as we are seeing, to go to court to defend their faith and the good work they do as an exercise of that faith.

Conversations are being had all over the country about the mandate, the lawsuits filed to block it and the grassroots action that is needed to create awareness of this threat to our liberty. Confidence is high that the rule will eventually be struck down but this is little comfort to religious institutions that have been given a mere one-year reprieve in which to choose either acting against their conscience or facing exorbitant penalties that will lead to financial ruin. The temporary exemption offers no option at all to formerly religious now secular institutions, as well as individual business owners, as this administration abruptly refuses to recognize their rights of conscience.

There is, however, an option. Religious freedom and liberty activist, along with faith leaders, policy advocates and politicians across the country are petitioning members of Congress to live up to their oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States of America by voting to protect religious freedom. We are many but our ranks must grow. It is time to talk to family, friends and neighbors, to priests, ministers, rabbis, elders and lay people. The power of the American electorate is without equal. We have faced challenges to our freedoms in the past and are better for having stood up to defend our rights. The time has come to, once again, stand united with our fellow citizens in securing and protecting our first freedom, a freedom that makes us a beacon around the world to those oppressed and persecuted for their faith. A freedom we enjoy is slipping through our fingers. Is it not our duty to preserve it for future generations?

Whether your belief is in a higher power that has endowed us with unalienable rights, including the right to practice your faith in your home, your house of worship, and in the public square or in the individual Liberty secured and protected by our Founding Fathers in the constitution, the obligation is clear. Religious freedom is under attack and it is time to demand, in voices loud and strong, our legislators act

Christen M. Varley is the executive director of Conscience Cause