University of Mobile President Dr. Mark Foley said the federal government does not have the authority to define what constitutes true religion and authentic ministry, and its attempts to do so are setting a dangerous precedent. The Christian college president said the government’s definition of “religious employer” in the federal healthcare mandate is far too narrow. Foley has filed comments to that effect with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The scope of the definition of “religious employers” exempted from the mandate is inappropriately
narrow and fails to accommodate forms of religious expression directed in the biblical record and
historically exercised by multitudes of church-related organizations and independent citizens of faith.
Thus, the definition, stated below, effectively gives preference to one form of religious expression to
the exclusion of all others. In so doing, it violates a fundamental principle of the establishment clause:
that the government not pick and choose between different religious groups.

The University of Mobile’s top two student awards, the William K. Weaver Jr. Excellence Award and the Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Excellence Award, were presented to graduates Andrew Chandler Pouncey of Mobile and Kala Marc Holt of Millerville, Ala., during graduation ceremonies May 12.

Faith is key to a successful life, University of Mobile commencement speaker Frederick T. Stimpson III told the Class of 2012 during ceremonies May 12 at the Mobile Civic Center.

The University of Mobile awarded degrees to approximately 350 graduates during commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 12 at 10 a.m. at the Mobile Civic Center. Graduates by hometowns are: