President Donald Trump told the Little Sisters of the Poor that their “long ordeal will soon be over” before signing an executive order to protect religious liberty in the White House Rose Garden Thursday.
The Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic institute for women, sued over the Affordable Care Act because it fined them for refusing to provide health-care coverage for contraceptives. The nuns ultimately won that case in 2016.
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During his speech, Trump invited the Little Sisters of the Poor to stand and be recognized for their efforts.
“We know too well the attacks against the Little Sisters of the Poor,” Trump said. “Incredible nuns who care for the sick, the elderly, and the forgotten.”
“Could you stand sisters?” Trump requested before inviting them up to the stage.
“Congratulations. They sort of just won a lawsuit…that was pretty good,” he continued.
“Well, I want you to know that your long ordeal will soon be over,” Trump said to applause.
The Little Sisters praised the executive order and its attempts to “protect religious liberty” on Thursday afternoon.
“Today we are grateful for the president’s order and look forward to the agencies giving us an exemption so that we can continue caring for the elderly poor and dying as if they were Christ himself without the fear of government punishment,” said Mother Loraine, Mother Provincial of the Little Sisters of the Poor.