A St. Louis catholic business owner, represented by the American Center for Law and Justice, has filed a ground-breaking federal lawsuit against President Obama's Department of Health and Human Services (headed by Kathleen Sebelius), requesting a permanent injunction on the mandate requiring his health insurance to provide his employees free contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs.
For background, read Obama Feeds Catholics 'A Bunch of Bull,' Says Santorum and also read ObamaCare Stakes Ground in War on Christianity as well as To Cut Costs, Lower Birth Rate, Says White House
UPDATE 9/13/12: Overriding Dem governor's veto, Missouri legislature enacts law allowing employers and insurers to ignore ObamaCare's contraceptives mandate
-- From "Company’s current coverage includes birth control; owner says he wants to exclude coverage when renewing" by Blythe Bernhard, St. Louis Post-Dispatch 3/16/12
Frank O'Brien, who owns O'Brien Industrial Holdings, said the birth control rule violates his religious beliefs, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.
"He is a very devout Catholic. He's got a religious statue in the lobby of his office," said O'Brien's attorney, Francis Manion. "That's what religious diversity and pluralism is all about. There are certain companies that you know don't do certain things."
The company's mission and values are "to make our labor a pleasing offering to the Lord while enriching our families and society," according to its website. "Our conduct is guided by the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments. We will not discriminate based on anyone's personal belief system."
Missouri also requires businesses that provide health insurance to include contraception coverage but allows for more broad-based religious and moral exemptions.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Non-religious business sues over contraception mandate" by Sam Baker, The Hill 3/15/12
The Obama administration’s controversial birth-control mandate saw its first legal challenge Thursday from an employer not affiliated with any religious institution.
“The [Department of Health and Human Services] mandate tells people like Frank O’Brien that they have to choose between conducting their business in a manner consistent with their moral values, or conducting their business in a manner consistent with the government’s values,” the ACLJ said in a statement. “The constitution does not allow the government to impose such a choice.”
The Senate last month defeated an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), that would have exempted all employers from coverage mandates that violate their religious or moral beliefs.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Under protection of Sacred Heart, Catholic businessman files suit against mandate" by Jennifer Brinker, St. Louis Review 3/16/12
. . . the recent federal health care mandate, which will require businesses like O'Brien's to include full coverage of contraception, abortion-inducing drugs and sterilizations, clearly goes against those values. That's why O'Brien, a member of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood, filed a lawsuit against the federal government March 15 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.
O'Brien Industrial Holdings LLC is the holding company of the Christy family of companies, which explore, mine and process refractory and ceramic raw materials, with its products going to more than 40 countries. There are 87 employees.
"The fact of the matter is, most CEOs of companies don't really know exactly what's in their health plans — like most employees," said Manion. "The policy doesn't say we don't cover birth control. It just says we have a prescription drug benefit." Manion cited another example of an organization of women religious, who, up until two years ago didn't know that their health plan covered contraceptives.
Because the health plan isn't up for renewal until next January, O'Brien would have to wait to change the plan until then. But under the federal mandate, he won't be able to do that, said Manion.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Missouri Man Is First Private Business Owner to Sue HHS Over Contraception Mandate" by Susan Jones, CNSNews.com 3/15/12
A statement of the company's values begins with the following: "Integrity. Our conduct is guided by the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments. We will not discriminate based on anyone's personal belief system."
The lawsuit contends that the HHS mandate "imposes a substantial burden on Plaintiffs' free exercise of religion by coercing Plaintiffs to choose between conducting their business in accordance with their religious beliefs or paying substantial penalties to the government."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Read also Bishops Say Obama Destroying Societal Norm
