I commend U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio for sponsoring federal legislation to repeal President Obama’s healthcare mandate that would force religious institutions to offer employees insurance coverage that provides contraceptive and family-planning services, including abortion. The mandate is another venue for a progressive and activist government to enforce its view on religious institutions.

It’s one thing is to enforce a government mandate on government institutions and another one is to impose it on religious institutions. Where is the separation between government and religion? Most Catholics are against abortion or contraceptives, which means that we support the right of life. To comply with this mandate goes against our core belief of the sanctity of life. I am not against parents using birth control methods if they desire.

I am happy to support Rubio. He is not afraid to speak on behalf of his beliefs. I look forward to the success and approval of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to bring some sanity to our country.

Julio R. Lago, Homestead

In their zeal to apply the tenets of their own religion to others, Sen. Marco Rubio and Archbishop Thomas Wenski seek to deny access to contraception to the church’s non-Catholic employees. They appear blind to the fact that by seeking to deny access to contraception to those whose religions permit that practice, they are engaging in religious discrimination.

Don MacCullough, North Miami Beach