Goodbye, Religious Freedom. (The HHS Mandate Kicks In Today.)

August 1 -- The Health and Human Services mandate requiring "health care" plans to provide contraceptives, abortifacient drugs, and sterilization procedures is now in effect.  In other words, thanks to the Obama administration and the Democrat Party, the direct suppression of religious freedom is now a formal policy of the U.S. government.

And don't think for one moment that Team Obama will be slack in enforcing that policy.

Here's a few salient articles for more information on what 's happening...and what we can expect next.

* "The Mandate Kicks In: The Battle for Religious Freedom and Civil Society Continues" by George Weigel at NRO. (Exceptional piece.)

* "The HHS Mandate Goes into Effect" by the Editors of NRO. (Also excellent.)

* "Obamacare’s Anti-Religious Freedom Mandate Starts Today" by Amy Payne and Sarah Torre at the Foundry, Heritage Foundation.

* "On August 1, Millions of Americans Lose Their Freedom Of Religion" by Christen Varley at Forbes.

* "Affordable Care Act Gives Government Permission to Play the Bully" by Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner at Fox News.

* "HHS-Mandate Injunction Reveals Weakness of Administration’s Arguments" by Carrie Severino at NRO.