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Washington, D.C. – In light of today’s Supreme Court oral arguments on the Hobby Lobby case, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement defending religious liberty:

“Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in one of the most pivotal cases on religious liberty in the modern history of our country. Three companies – including Hobby Lobby, Mardel’s Books and Conestoga Wood Specialties – are taking a stand against ObamaCare and its requirement that all employers include contraception in their employee health plan. While these companies are leading the charge here, this case will ultimately impact many more businesses and organizations.

“ObamaCare has numerous fatal flaws, most of which inflict serious financial damage on the small businesses, workers and families that make up our economy. Additionally, through the contraceptive mandate, ObamaCare risks inflicting damage on the First Amendment right of our people to practice their faiths openly. By compelling employers to act against their faiths, this law insinuates that the practice of one’s religious beliefs is not applicable in a business setting, particularly if it runs counter to the norms sanctioned by the federal government. In sum, for people with deeply held religious beliefs, ObamaCare forces them to choose between their business or their conscience.

“The founders intended something different. They knew religious liberty to be a fundamental right and they intended for it to extend to all aspects of life, as long as it never violated the rights of others. Generations of Americans, of all faiths and none of all, have celebrated, defended and expanded religious freedom. Part of what distinguishes America from the rest of the world is that we do not feel threatened by each other’s faiths. History is filled with instances of a people’s right to worship being limited or suppressed, but we are blessed to live in a nation that believes people of all religions – or of no religion at all – have a right to live according to their creed.

“That is why I was proud to join with 88 members of Congress, of both political parties, in an amicus brief submitted in this case. That brief clearly demonstrates the long-held American tradition of respecting religious freedom, from the First Amendment to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. I hope, and I pray, that the Supreme Court will uphold that tradition in this case by ruling in favor of religious liberty.”