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Seven states can't show harm in Obama edict
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
July 18th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
July 18th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
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.
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.
© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.