mford@delphosherald.com

DELPHOS — Earlier this year, controversy erupted between the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops and the Obama Administration over contraception. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a mandate to include birth control in health care provisions in cases where the employer covers the cost of employee health insurance. Catholics and other Christian groups saw this as an infraction on religious liberty. Though the president compromised by requiring insurance companies to offer contraception instead of religious institutions, some Christian groups still feel threatened.
A local grassroots group, Faith 4 Freedom, held a Protect Religious Freedom meeting Wednesday night hosted at the Knights of Columbus hall. Approximately 60 residents attended to hear the political lobbyist who was featured as the guest speaker.
Chris Long is also the director of the Ohio Christian Alliance. He says President Obama’s demand that Catholic hospitals, for example, offer birth control to female employees was a wake-up call to all Christians.