Tony Perkins wants the 'liberty' to deny birth control: 'That's why the Pilgrims came here'

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on Monday argued that companies should have the religious freedom to deny contraception coverage for women because "that's why the Pilgrims came here."

Earlier this month, a the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit became the latest to rule on a mandate in President Barack Obama's health care reform law that requires all health insurance plans to provide birth control without a co-pay.

The court ruled that company owners Francis A. Gilardi Jr. and Philip M. Gilardi should not have to provide coverage if it was against their Catholic faith.

There have been more than 40 challenges to the mandate across the country so far, and the Supreme Court was expected to rule on one case before the end of the month.

Perkins told the hosts of Fox & Friends that he expected the high court to pick up even more of those cases.

"Obviously a debate over whether the owner of a company can speak up and voice their personal beliefs versus the corporation themselves, right?" host Elisabeth Hasselbeck said, adding that the Obama administration was also trying to curtail religious expression in the armed services.

"This administration has not confined their attack on religious liberties simply to the workplace," Perkins agreed. "It's really started in the military. I mean, this administration, the Obama administration, I believe, all evidence would suggest, they're on a search-and-destroy mission as it pertains to religious liberty."

"Why do you think the administration wants this fight?" co-host Brian Kilmeade wondered.

"I think this administration has a very narrow view of the First Amendment, that first freedom, the freedom of religion," Perkins explained. "I think they see religious freedom as fine with it as long as it's in the four walls of a church. But if it comes into workplace, the marketplace, if it comes into the public square, it's not welcome."

"But the reality is, the founders saw us with an aggressive ability to live our lives according to our faith," he added. "I mean, that's why the Pilgrims came here."

Watch the video below from Fox News' Fox & Friends, broadcast Nov. 11, 2013.