Ave Maria not backing down from challenging federal contraceptives rule

[Morwenna]

A U.S. Supreme Court health-care ruling this week won't directly affect lawsuits filed by religious-affiliated employers like Ave Maria University over a controversial contraception mandate earlier this year.

But nestled in the 193-page decision issued Thursday that upheld the constitutionality of the federal health-care act, there was a "silver lining for people of faith," said Kyle Duncan, general counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a public interest law firm handling lawsuits by Ave Maria and others.

The ruling "suggests that the Supreme Court is willing to entertain arguments that the (Department of Health and Human Services) mandate violates the right of religious freedom," Duncan's colleague, Hannah Smith, said during a conference call with reporters hours after the ruling.

...

The Becket Fund highlighted two portions of this week's ruling as possible support for the 23 cases nationwide that are challenging the contraception mandate.

...

Towey said AMU won't back down from its suit, filed in February. The government filed a motion in May to dismiss AMU's lawsuit. The case remains open.

Full story here: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/...llenging-rule/

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[francisjulian]

Ave Maria.

[benjohnson]

Thank you Catholics for taking leadership on this issue!

There's a lot of us Lutherans that may not agree with Catholic doctrine on contraceptives, but are *fully* backing you and support you on protecting religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

I've attend one rally, and look forward to more!

[Robertanthony]

Originally Posted by benjohnson

Thank you Catholics for taking leadership on this issue!

There's a lot of us Lutherans that may not agree with Catholic doctrine on contraceptives, but are *fully* backing you and support you on protecting religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

I've attend one rally, and look forward to more!

It's wonderful that as Christians we can come together, lay aside our differences and join for common, crucial causes. There is a unity there that I find moving.

[Holly3278]

Good! I hope and pray that the contraceptive mandate is struck down. If it is not then you can be sure that even worse persecution will occur in the years to come.

[MidnightSun12]

My prayers are sincerely with Ave Maria and every other Christian group who is currently fighting this evil.

[_Abyssinia]

Supreme Court majority opinion

'even if the taxing power enables Congress to impose a tax on not obtaining health insurance, any tax must still comply with other requirements in the Constitution'

Justice Ginsburg

'a mandate to purchase a particular product would be unconstitutional if, for example, the edict impermissibly abridged the freedom of speech, interfered with the free exercise of religion, or infringed on a liberty interest protected by the Due Process Clause'

http://www.becketfund.org/key-quotes...he-hhs-mandate