Every time lawmakers acquiesce to same-sex "marriage" and civil unions, the claim is made that a "religious exemption" in the bill means Christians don't have to "bless" homosexual behavior, but invariably, the opposite is true -- as with the lawsuit against St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Westchester County, New York for lesbian "spousal" health benefits.
For background, read Christian Conscience Protections from NY 'Gay Marriage' and also read Gay Lobby Purchases Same-sex 'Marriage' in New York as well as Federal Judge Bars Christians from Opposing Gay Agenda
-- From "Lesbians Sue Catholic Hospital for Denying Spousal Health Care Benefits" by The Associated Press 6/20/12
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan sought past and future health care benefits and a declaration that the Westchester County couple is entitled to the benefits.
The lawsuit's plaintiffs remained anonymous. Defendants included Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and St. Joseph's Medical Center. Neither immediately responded to messages for comment. The lawsuit says one of the women works at St. Vincent's Westchester, a division of St. Joseph's. The women's attorney, Randolph McLaughlin, said the lawsuit was unique because it challenges the federal Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA] to obtain health care benefits.
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From "Employee Sues for Benefits to Cover Same-Sex Spouse" by Sharon Otterman, New York Times 6/19/12
Since same-sex marriage became legal in New York last July, most companies in the state have extended spousal health benefits to same-sex couples. But self-insured employers, which include St. Joseph’s and other large institutions, are primarily governed by federal, not state regulations. As a result, they may deny health coverage to same-sex couples under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In the lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, the employee argued that it was illegal to use the Defense of Marriage Act to justify denial of coverage, because the law is discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional.
. . . lawyers for the Westchester couple said they believed their suit was the first to cite a Catholic-affiliated institution and the private insurance company that administers its health plan, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, for denying coverage.
St. Joseph’s has more than 1,200 employees. Its insurance plan is self-financed, with Blue Cross Blue Shield acting as the administrator. Self-financed plans are exempt from many state laws, including New York’s Marriage Equality Act. It is up to such employers whether they want to cover same-sex spouses, or to use the federal definition of marriage to exclude them.
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