Jewish groups warn US federal government plan harms freedom of religion

Rabbi Abba Cohen, vice president for federal government affairs and Washington director of Agudath Israel, has criticized the Obama administration’s decision to force employers to pay for contraceptive, and embryocidal drugs and devices even if they object to doing so for reasons of conscience.  Nathan Diament, executive director of public policy for the Orthodox Union, expressed concern about the notion that religious belief that does not remain “insular” is not really religious belief. [JTA News; OJC News release]