Obama makes ‘unwavering’ pledge to protect religious liberty in new video
By Alicia M. Cohn - 09/17/12 03:07 PM ET
President Obama on Monday made a campaign pitch to “people of faith” in which he reaffirmed what he called his “unwavering” commitment to “protecting religious liberty.”
“I know faith is often used as a wedge in our politics, and with a new election year comes new attacks,” Obama said in the video. “The American people should know this: In a changing world, my commitment to protecting religious liberty is and always will be unwavering. As America's religious diversity grows, we have the chance to reaffirm the pluralism that has defined us as a nation. A pluralism that is expansive enough to protect the rights of all to speak their minds and to follow their conscience.”
Obama has faced numerous charges of conducting a “war on religion” from Republicans. Earlier this year, the White House faced a national backlash from GOP and Christian groups after it issued a mandate requiring most employers to provide birth control for women in their healthcare plans without charging a copay. The requirement triggered several unresolved lawsuits by religious-affiliated employers that object to certain methods of birth control.
Mitt Romney renewed those charges in a TV ad released last month.
http://thehill.com/video/campaign/249883-obama-pledges-unwavering-commitment-to-protecting-religious-liberty
