Are Protestant churches standing up for religious freedom?

I haven’t seen any evidence that Lutherans, Methodists, Brethren, Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, etc. have stepped up to support or comment on the U.S. Bishops’ letters read to their parishes throughout the USA on January 29 calling for civil disobedience related to mandated insurance coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortifacients for Catholic institution employees.

They might want to take another look at something completely unrelated but still a challenge to PPACA, and that’s Medicaid mandates. Medicaid was created in 1965. It is the nation’s largest health insurer. In 2010 Medicaid spending totaled $400.7 billion from the federal government and $129.8 billion from state and local governments, with a 20.3% increase by 2014 projected because of PPACA’s expansion. (figures and story from New England Journal of Medicine, Jan. 12, 2012)

You’ve probably heard about the challenge in the courts of the individual mandate to purchase insurance. Were you aware that 26 states (Florida + 25) are challenging the mandated expansion of Medicaid as a violation of the U.S. Constitution? (The spending clause) The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the challenge.

Do you know what the number one argument the government will have? The states were warned from the beginning that Congress reserved the right to make changes to Medicaid, and it has done so many times over the years, and with each subsequent amendment you didn’t challenge it.

It’s time to challenge the government in this intrusion into church teaching and it’s stripping us of our first amendment rights.