“If the [Obama] administration can punish Christian organizations simply because they want to abide by their faith, there is no limit to what other freedoms it can take away. The 8th Circuit was right to uphold the district court’s order and block enforcement of this unconstitutional mandate.”For background, read about the on-going battle of ObamaCare forcing Christians to pay for abortifacients, contraceptives and sterilizations; and also read Atheists and Liberals Alike Lament Recent Supreme Court Religious Liberty Rulings
-- Gregory S. Baylor, senior counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)
Click headlines below to read previous articles:
Federal Judge Blocks ObamaCare Assault on Christians
Christians Oppose ObamaCare, Support Hobby Lobby
Christians Forced into Abortion Business by 9th Circuit Court
California Forces Catholics to Fund Abortion Insurance
Also read President Obama Denies Leading War Against Christianity
However, President Obama Redefines 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion
-- From "Birth control, Obamacare could go back to Supreme Court again" by Anthony Perrucci, WGNO-TV26 (New Orleans, LA) 9/18/15
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis gave religious groups a big win in their fight against the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate.
The court ruled Thursday to uphold an injunction against the mandate, in a case brought by Dordt College, of Sioux Center, Iowa, and Cornerstone University, of Grand Rapids, Mich. The schools say their religious beliefs forbid them from providing contraception to employees–as well as applying for accommodations excusing them from doing so.
Six other appeals courts have ruled that the contraception mandate is, in fact, constitutional. That raises the likelihood of the Supreme Court taking up the case to resolve the conflict.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Contraception opt-out violates religious freedom: U.S. appeals court" by Brendan Pierson, Reuters 9/17/15
The [latest version of the ObamaCare] law allows religiously affiliated non-profit employers to opt out of paying for contraceptive coverage directly. Once they do, insurers must provide the coverage separately at no extra cost to the employee. Employers that do not follow the opt-out process face a financial penalty.
Many employers have filed lawsuits against the government, claiming that the opt-out process makes them complicit in providing contraceptive coverage. Before Thursday, however, every appeals court that considered the issue has rejected that argument.
The employers say the opt-out provision violates a 1993 federal law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act [RFRA].
The cases are Dordt College et al v. Burwell, No. 14-2726, and Sharpe Holdings Inc et al v. U.S. Department of Human Services et al, No. 14-1507, both in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Appeals court: ACA birth control mandate a 'substantial burden' on religious employers" by Doug G. Ware, UPI 9/17/15
"We conclude that compelling their participation in the accommodation process by threat of severe monetary penalty is a substantial burden on their exercise of religion," the court said.
The decision means the plaintiffs, four Christian nonprofits, do not need to abide by the law insofar as the birth control mandate is concerned.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Court rules against ObamaCare birth control mandate" by Sarah Ferris, The Hill 9/17/15
“With today's decisions, the [Supreme] Court will have great reason to decide this issue in the next term,” one religious rights group, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, wrote in a statement Thursday.
The Supreme Court already has several cases involving the birth control mandate it could take up in its fall term.
The ruling includes 30 references to Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the 2014 Supreme Court case that allowed certain for-profit companies to opt out of the mandate. Since that decision, multiple nonprofits, including universities, have taken legal action demanding to be granted the same permissions.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Religious groups win Obamacare birth control case" by Robert King, Washington Examiner 9/17/15
"Fifteen federal judges now agree that the government has no right to dictate or second guess a person's sincere religious beliefs," said Lori Windham, senior counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. The fund has financed the legal defense for CNS International Ministries and Heartland Christian College, which brought the lawsuit over the birth control mandate.
The appeals court ruled that the government's fines for CNS and the college, which only got an accommodation, do impose a burden on their religious beliefs.
"When the government imposes a direct monetary penalty to coerce conduct that violates religious belief, '[T]here has never been a question that the government 'imposes a substantial burden on the exercise of religion,'" the opinion said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Obama demands contraceptive coverage despite 72 court losses" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 9/17/15
Reaching the same conclusion as dozens of other courts, the 8th U.S. Circuit of Appeals has freed two Christian schools, Dordt College in Iowa and Cornerstone University in Michigan, from Obamacare’s abortion-pill mandate, because the law creates a burden on religious rights.
“Even assuming that the government’s interests in safeguarding public health and ensuring equal access to health care for women are compelling, the contraceptive mandate and accommodation process likely are not the least restrictive means of furthering those interests,” the court said.
ADF points out the abortion-pill mandate scorecard shows the government losing 72-16 in the courts. But the Obama administration continues to fight for the provision in its health-care legislation that requires employers to provide birth-control coverage, including drugs that cause abortion, which violates the religious beliefs of many employers.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read ObamaCare Funnels $1 Million to Planned Parenthood
And read President Obama Edicts More Transgender Rights via ObamaCare
