Religious freedom has scored another victory over the conscious-threatening mandate under ObamaCare, requiring faithfuls to provide pregnancy-terminating contraceptives. The victory for two Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses is the latest in a string of freedom of religion cases brought in front of federal courts.
The groups have won a delay in having to comply with controversial mandates in ObamaCare that would go against their religious values.
A federal judge ruled Thursday that forcing two Catholic schools and charities that are related to the schools to comply with parts of ObamaCare would result in a loss of donations and workers, and fines that would force some of the church programs to close down.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab for the Pittsburgh and Erie Catholic dioceses allows the two groups to ignore compliance with the mandate until their appeal reaches the higher courts. The dioceses, as well as other religious organizations, have objected to ObamaCare requiring that several forms of contraception, including sterilization, be provided along with employee health care plans.
It is these very Essential Health Benefit Standards that have been the center of controversy over the last couple weeks, as preposterous regulations cause insurers to dump millions of Americans who were happy with their plans.
Judge Schwab reasoned that the government would not be harmed by a delay in the case, but the dioceses on the other hand would be harmed, and would face a “substantial burden on their free exercise of religion” if they were forced to comply by January 1.
Schwab found that the contraceptive mandate would apply to some church organizations but not others, and that would cause a division within and for the church.
There have been 75 similar lawsuits filed against the government over ObamaCare, setting the stage for a final conclusion at the U.S. Supreme Court. Another notable case covered by People’s Pundit Daily involved Cherry Creek Mortgage, who also won a reprieve from the mandate.
Hobby Lobby Mardel Christian bookstore, as well, asked the high court to take up the case on October 22, after U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton granted them a temporary exemption.
The public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Michigan filed a in federal court on November 1. They, too, are challenging the federal mandate to provide contraception services under ObamaCare.
In the Pennsylvania case, the Department of Justice claimed that a plan to have third parties provide and pay for services such as birth control and abortion wouldn’t infringe on religious freedom rights.
But Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik testified before Schwab last week that he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he signed a form that allowed the disputed services to be provided to employees, even by a third party. Zubik said the church is being asked to violate an important belief and a matter of conscience.
