UMobile President Foley Filed Comments With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

University of Mobile President Mark Foley has filed comments about the federal government’s definition of “religious employer” with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He said the federal government does not have the authority to define what constitutes true religion and authentic ministry.

The government’s definition of “religious employer” in the federal health care mandate is far too narrow, Foley said. 

“I reject the idea that it is within the jurisdiction of the federal government to define, in place of religious communities, what constitutes true religion and authentic ministry,” Foley wrote to the HHS.

In addition, Foley has joined with other leaders of faith-based service organizations, college presidents in the national Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, and the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance to express “grave concerns” about the precedent of allowing the federal government to define what is and is not a religious organization, as part of the federal health care mandate.

Foley’s comment submission to HHS is online at www.umobile.edu.