Catholic business wins minor victory against Obama mandate

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
1/3/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Family wins temporary halt of Obamacare enforcement.

There's a spot of hope for religious freedom following a decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to stop the government from enforcing its offensive contraceptive and abortifacient mandate in the face of religious freedom.

Obama has made several changes to the common understanding of the Bill of Rights which has his administration in an all-out battle in the various courts.

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CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - Dozens of lawsuits have been filed to challenge the Obamacare mandate that says employers must pay for employee insurance plans that must provide, free of charge to the employee, contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortifacients.

The most recent decision involves the case of Cyril and Jane Korte, a Roman Catholic couple who own a construction firm and are seeking to avoid compliance with the edict, which they understand as a violation of their faith.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in their favor on a split, 2 to 1 decision. The court said in its ruling that the government had not justified its "substantial burden" on religious freedom.

Edward White, a lawyer for the Korte family said "Business owners who are objecting to the mandate are not objecting to people using contraceptives, but that they have to arrange for and pay for it. The federal government shouldn't tell business owners they have to contract to buy what they see as immoral services and goods."

However, Judge Ilana Rovner dissented from her colleagues, claiming that the family was "multiple steps" removed from the offensive services because the decision did not involve them. The choices involved involve the doctor, patient, and insurance company, not the family.

However, what Rovner isn't recognizing is that money from the Korte's pocket would be financing all such activity.

The favorable ruling comes just days after Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor ruled against granting an injunction to David and Barbara Green, an evangelical couple who owns Hobby Lobby, a successful arts and crafts chain that they managed consistent with Christian principles.

Without the injunction, Hobby Lobby is subject to $1.3 million in daily fines, which began accruing Tuesday.

The debate threatens to divide the nation, which by and large supports religious freedom against the Obama administration which favors free contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortifacients on demand, as part of its sweeping healthcare initiative. Critics have pointed out that services which prevent life and cause death should not be labeled "healthcare."

As of Tuesday, fines have begun accruing for businesses that refuse to comply with Obama's edict. If Obama wins, the fines alone could sink a number of religious organizations in a single stroke.

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: 7th US Circuit, appeal, Cyril Korte, Jane Korte, Obamacare, abortion

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

DLL
4 months ago
Judge Rovener is wrong. If the insured is female and gets pregnant then decides against abortion,has the baby,the family will be involved in the care of the baby,if the family is worth it's salt. She seems to think Obama care abortion services is a mandate to abort and not a choice to abort. Teaching Chastity is birth control and that is a personal family education matter. The family is definitely involved in this patient,doctor,insurance company decision because if the patient has an abortion and dies from internal bleeding than they won't be paying for the funeral,the family will. What ever happened to common sense?
Rick
4 months ago
I hope that the Courts continue to rule in favor of liberty. I pray God will send a miracle to save us from this Administration and it's assaults on the Christian people.
Janusz
4 months ago
Robert, I fully agree with your comment! Sorry to say it, but I no longer feel comfortable in church - I keep wondering whether the person sitting next to me was BO's supporter....
james in colorado
4 months ago
I know that I should trust in God through all of these "changes" in our Country, but the truth is, I could not sleep after Obama won a second term. I pray for courage for all Catholic and Denominational christians to receive a greator outporing of the Holy Spirit so that we might stand against this evil srtucture of sin that the goverment is promoting and boldig claim that We cannot comply, because Jesus is Lord and Him only do we serve.
Robert
4 months ago
I personally would like to thank all Catholics who voted for Obama for turning their backs on the teachings of the Catholic Church and flushing my family's religious freedom down the drain.

Choice 1: Pay the government fines for not providing the morning after pill to employees
Choice 2: Pay for the morning after pill for my employees and violate the tenants of our faith.
Choice 3: Cut back to 49 employees and send pink slips to several hard working people.

And the choice is: I would like to know.....

Oh well, we can now rest comfortably knowing that your children and mine have a deficit to large to fathom, gay marriage advocates are emboldened to redefine marriage, and that illegal aliens will continue to receive government assistance, and the Planned Parenthood is held up on a pedestal as a beacon for Women's health unless of course you are a female in the womb.

Yes, Thank you again for assisting moral decay aka EVIL wrapped up nicely with SOCIAL JUSTICE ribbons and bows.

A question for the clergy who did not speak out against the political administration I ask you, "where was your courage, your clarity of thought, your clarity of action?"

Finally, Jesus asked for 10% and asked us to give to Caesar what is Caesar's. I don't recalling him leaning over to Caesar and saying PSSST "you should ask for a whole lot more and you can be the authority about right and wrong".

Can someone explain how we got to this point?
vance
4 months ago
This is good news but they will need to contend with the Supreme Court who already ruled in favor of Obamacare which contains the HHS Mandate. All the justices knew that when they ruled in favor of it. Unless Roberts has a change in heart, the ruling will be the same.
nikorb
4 months ago
"So this is how democracy ends; with a thunderous applause [and tingly feelings]"

It is good that this family has won this victory. More people ought to follow their example of standing up.

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