They say that no good deed goes unpunished. There’s even a song called “No Good Deed” in a hit Broadway musical.

If anyone ever had a reason to say that, it would be the Little Sisters of the Poor. Free exercise of religion may be a fundamental right in America, but they’ve been fighting for theirs for more than a dozen years—and counting.

Founded in 1839 by Jeanne Jugan, whom Pope Benedict XVI canonized in 2006, the Little Sisters serve the elderly poor all over the world. In addition to chastity, poverty, and obedience, the Little Sisters vow hospitality, and their work includes operating homes for the elderly in nearly a dozen countries, including the U.S.

Then came Obamacare. Signed into law in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act required that employers provide group health insurance plans with “minimum essential coverage,” including “preventive care.” By regulation, the Department of Health and Human Services said this includes not only contraceptives, which prevent pregnancy, but also abortifacients, which terminate it. The Obama administration threatened massive fines for noncompliance with this part of its “reproductive freedom” agenda.

The administration employed........

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