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Seven states can't show harm in Obama edict

Judge tosses out suit in HHS contraception edict.

A federal judge in Nebraska has thrown out a lawsuit brought by seven states against Obama's contraception mandate. US District Court Judge Warren K. Urbom tossed the suit saying they could not show any harm from the edict and that they had no standing to sue.

Good and evil are mutually incompatible.

Good and evil are mutually incompatible.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Several states are suing the Obama administration over this contraception mandate that requires all health plans to provide free contraceptive services on demand. Those services would also include sterilizations and abortifacients, which are exceedingly immoral practices. 

The original mandate required all organizations, including religious organizations such as churches, schools, and even private employers, to pay into a system where their monies would be used to fund activities that they might find personally and morally objectionable. The administration eventually issued a compromise, but that compromise still does not cover all organizations and individuals. The compromise does not prevent money paid by those organizations to fund those activities either, since money is fungible. 

Disregarding this point, Urbom explained that the plaintiffs failed to show that the edict would apply to them. "In short, the individual plaintiffs have not shown that their current health plans will be required to cover contraception-related services under the rule, and therefore their claims must be dismissed," Urbom explained. 

Defending the rights of the people of Nebraska, state Attorney General Jon Bruning said, "Today's decision completely disregards the federal government's continued shell game when it comes to this rule. Essentially, this decision asks millions of Americans to watch and wait for their religious liberties to be violated."

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt remained optimistic in a statement issued by his office. "This was not a ruling on whether the religious mandate is a violation of the First Amendment, but merely a decision on whether the plaintiffs can file a lawsuit at this time. The violations need to be heard and the federal government held accountable."

While the current suit has been dismissed, an appeal is expected. Another lawsuit is also pending on similar grounds from other religious organizations that object to the edict. 

© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM. 

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Keywords: HHS, Obama, contraception, judge, suit, sue, Orbom

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

  1. Theresa H
    10 months ago

    The problem, "Catholic Girl," is that "the Church" is not just the Rectory and the Parish Church Office, its the Catholic Hospitals, Catholic Nursing Homes, Catholic Schools, and every person of Religious Faith who holds to the 5th Commandment! The government is taking away our freedom to practice our religion. "Freedom of Religion" is not only expressed inside Church buildings, but everywhere a person of Religion goes and in everything he/she does--at least it should be!

  2. Kasoy
    11 months ago

    CJ Roberts (SCOTUS) said in his decision: elected officials can always be thrown out of office if voters do not agree with their policies (esp immoral policies that violate religious freedom). All those who oppose this HHS mandate and Obamacare should have their voices heard on Nov 6, 2012 (Election Day). It's obvious now, that this is our only option.

  3. DarthJ
    11 months ago

    Wow. The Feds ruling in favour of the Feds. The only thing to do now is secede or sink.

  4. techwreck
    11 months ago

    What the 87 year old judge actually said was that the states and the Church can't show harm from Obamacare YET! The judge's concept of justice is that after damage is done to our states and churches by the federal government, perhaps irrepairable, then we can appeal to the courts to stop it. (The judge is a poster boy for a manditory retirement age for federal judges!)

  5. catholic girl
    11 months ago

    Churches and there employees are exempt just liknne they have always been. Only non official institutions are affected.

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