Church and State Collide in February 2012

Over the past few weeks, we've seen an escalation in conflict between Church and State. On January 20 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that nearly all employers – including religious charities, hospitals and schools – will be required for the first time by law to provide and pay for insurance coverage that includes contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization procedures. While many in the news media have tried to make this into an issue that only affects the Roman Catholic Church, the facts are otherwise.

According to Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison...

We are deeply distressed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recent decision to require nearly all private health plans, including those offered by religious employers, to cover contraceptives. This will include controversial birth-control products such as “Ella” and the “morning after” pill, even though the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that such drugs can cause the death of a baby developing in the womb. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) objects to the use of drugs and procedures that are used to take the lives of unborn children, who are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception, and we are opposed to the HHS’ decision mandating the coverage of such contraceptives.

Click here to read the entire statement by Pastor Harrison.

On a related note, found a video of Eric Metaxas below on Frank Turek's website.

As Turek states...

My friend and best-selling “Bonhoeffer” biographer Eric Metaxas brilliantly wove wit and humor through a speech against dead religion at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. Calling on the heavenly witnesses of Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer, Metaxas courageously defended life and natural marriage before about 4,000 people and with President Obama and Vice President Biden sitting just a few feet away from him. This entertaining yet powerful and pointed talk is well worth 29 minutes of your time (Eric’s speech starts at about the 35 minute mark. President Obama’s speech follows).