The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Legal Counsel Matt Bowman regarding the Obama administration’s opening brief filed on appeal Friday in Newland v. Sebelius, in which the government argues that mandating free abortion pills and birth control for private employees is a “compelling government interest” and that forcing Hercules Industries and its owners to provide such coverage against their religious beliefs “does not impose a substantial burden on any exercise of religion by Hercules Industries or the Newlands”:

“Every American, including family business owners, should be free to live and do business according to their faith. The cost of religious freedom for this family could be millions of dollars per year in fines that would cripple their business and potentially destroy jobs if the administration ultimately has its way. In appealing the district court’s order that halted the mandate against Hercules, the administration sent a clear message that it wants to force families to abandon their faith in order to earn a living. That’s the opposite of religious freedom.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building legal ministry that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.