7 Trump Accomplishments That Evangelicals Like

By Samuel Smith, Deputy Managing Editor Friday, December 15, 2017

4. Giving religious organizations exemptions to the Obamacare contraception mandate

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with a nun of the Little Sisters of The Poor during a National Day of Prayer event at the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington D.C., U.S., May 4, 2017. | (Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

The announcement of Sessions' religious freedom guidance in October came shortly after the Trump administration announced two new federal rules that would allow nonprofits and for-profit businesses to make religious and moral objections to a Department of Health and Human Services Obamacare mandate requiring the coverage of contraceptive and abortion-inducing drugs.

The decision came after a number of religious nonprofits (most notably Little Sisters of the Poor) filed lawsuits against the Obama-era mandate that they felt compelled them to violate their deeply-held religious beliefs. Although churches were exempt from the mandate, religious organizations (and even a group of nuns) had trouble getting the same exemption.

"President Trump is demonstrating his commitment to undoing the anti-faith policies of the previous administration and restoring true religious freedom," Perkins said in a statement. "Last May, the president ordered the federal government to vigorously promote and protect religious liberty – and now the DOJ and HHS are moving to make that order a reality."