In what is being called a smashing victory for religious freedom, U.S. District Court Judge David Russell has issued a ruling in which he declared the Obama Administration’s controversial “birth control mandate” to be a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and has stopped all enforcement of the mandate against dozens of Catholic dioceses and institutions.
Read the rest
The Little Sisters of the Poor aren’t out of legal trouble yet! Attorneys General in the states of California and Pennsylvania are challenging the Trump administration’s new rules that permit exemptions for employers with religious and moral objections.
Read the rest
The state of California is suing the Trump administration, claiming that it unlawfully discriminates against women in its decision to limit the onerous birth control mandate that formerly required religious employers to cover health care services that violate their beliefs.
Read the rest
Today’s feast of the martyrdom of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher marks the beginning of 10 days which have been set aside to focus on religious freedom issues both here and abroad.
Read the rest
Many of the voters who put President Donald Trump in office are scratching their heads over a decision by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to request a 60-day delay in order to continue negotiations with religious organizations that have requested relief from the onerous birth control mandate. Why don’t they just drop the case?
Read the rest
With the election of Donald J. Trump to the White House, and a conservative majority controlling both House and Senate, legal experts believe the new administration will likely scrap lawsuits concerning controversial rules and regulations such as the “Dear Colleague” transgender bathroom letter and the HHS mandate targeting religious institutions.
Read the rest
8th Circuit Court of Appeals
A federal court ruling issued yesterday which says the government cannot impose massive IRS fines on religious ministries for following their faith has now set the stage for cases such as the Little Sisters of the Poor to be heard at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Read the rest
The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against four Catholic institutions affiliated with the Archdiocese of New York, saying that being required to sign an opt-out form to avoid providing contraceptive coverage to their employees does not constitute a substantial burden on the exercise of their religion.
Read the rest
Moments ago, the Supreme Court ordered a lower court to reconsider its ruling that denied a Catholic university the freedom to follow its faith.
Read the rest
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other religious leaders have expressed disappointment with the revisions made to the birth control mandate that still do not protect the consciences of those who object to this coverage on religious grounds.
Read the rest
