Two Baptist Schools Sue Over Birth Control Mandate

Religion Today | Updated: Nov 09, 2012

Two Baptist Schools Sue Over Birth Control Mandate

Two more Christian colleges have filed suit against the federal government over the Health and Human Services mandate that they cover contraceptive and abortifacient drugs under their health insurance policies, WORLD Magazine reports. Houston Baptist University and East Texas Baptist University, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, each face annual fines of more than $10 million if they don't comply with the mandate. "While we are always reluctant to enter into lawsuits, the government has given us no choice," said Dr. Robert Sloan, president of Houston Baptist University. "Either we violate our conscience or give in to the administration's heavy-handed attack upon our religious freedom. We will not comply with this unconstitutional mandate, and we plead with our government to respect the liberties given by God and enunciated in the Bill of Rights." The federal government now faces 33 lawsuits over the mandate, which went into effect Aug. 1.

Two Baptist Schools Sue Over Birth Control Mandate