Dear Friend, Have you seen the Sight and Sound production of Daniel? I had the pleasure of watching one of the first shows. It's truly remarkable. What great examples we see in God's Word — the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to stand for truth in the face of the fiery furnace and Daniel's faithful obedience to God no matter the circumstance. The Scriptures call us to be courageous, but that doesn't make it easy. We must take action in the face of our fears. One of the most rewarding aspects of leading our pro-bono Independence Law Center is working with incredible clients who display such courage. Two clients come to mind, both of whom brought their cases to the U.S. Supreme Court and won! |
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- For the Hahn Family, their modern-day fiery furnace was refusing to bend their knee to an Obama-era mandate that required many employers — regardless of their religious or moral convictions — to provide abortion-inducing drugs in their health care plan. Failing to do so risked crippling fines for their family-run cabinet business, Conestoga Wood Specialties. The way the Hahns run their business is a reflection of their Christian faith. Ten years ago, on June 30, 2014, after choosing to challenge this mandate in court despite the possible consequences (and despite losing the case in lower courts), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Hahns (and in favor of the Green family in a companion case on behalf of Hobby Lobby).
- Gerald Groff, the faithful carrier from Lancaster County, was forced out of his job when he refused to violate his conscience and work on Sundays. A former overseas missionary, Gerald took a job at the Post Office so that he didn't have to work on Sundays. When the Post Office began Sunday Amazon deliveries, it initially accommodated his religious beliefs in exchange for Gerald working every Saturday, holiday, and sometimes more than one shift per day. But a new directive ended the accommodation, and Gerald was faced with a choice: violate his convictions or lose his job. He chose his convictions and later challenged the government in court. Despite losing in lower courts, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a unanimous decision in his favor last June.
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Growing up, my dad would often ask, "What have you done today to make your life significant?" He wasn't encouraging a boastful attitude but developing a mindset of making a difference in things that truly matter. Religious freedom is something that truly matters. It's incredibly encouraging to see examples like Gerald Groff and the Hahn family who understand this and live out what truly matters no matter the costs. I encourage you to celebrate the anniversaries of these two Supreme Court victories — these examples of faithfulness and courage — by marking this Sunday, June 30th as Religious Freedom Day. Take time at church to pray with thanksgiving for these victories or take a moment with your family at the dinner table to express appreciation to God. |
For more, visit pafamily.org/celebrate. While it's a joy to serve many courageous individuals through free legal representation at the Independence Law Center, it is your financial support that makes this possible. Thank you for helping those like Gerald and the Hahn family stand for religious freedom. Sincerely, |
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| Randall Wenger Chief Counsel Independence Law Center |
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Pennsylvania Family Institute
23 N Front St | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
(717) 545-0600 | mail@pafamily.org |
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