The Catholic owners of Hercules Industries of Denver filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against the Obama administration over HHS mandate and is asking the court to halt implementation of the mandate within the next three months.
According to the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a public interest law firm that is representing Hercules Industries, the company would be forced to begin offering the new coverage when its self-insured plan renews on November 1. Therefore, it is requesting a court order that would halt the mandate within the next three months.
“The government shouldn’t punish people of faith for making decisions in accordance with their faith,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “Every American should know that a government with the power to do this to anyone can do this–and worse–to everyone. The abortion pill mandate unconstitutionally coerces the leadership of Hercules Industries to violate their religious beliefs and consciences under the threat of heavy fines and penalties. That is simply not acceptable in America.”
Hercules owners William Newland, Paul Newland, James Newland, and Christine Ketterhagen, and its vice-president, Andrew Newland, are practicing and believing Catholics. They desire to run the company, an HVAC manufacturer, in a manner that reflects their sincerely held religious beliefs, including their belief that God requires respect for the sanctity of human life.
Their lawsuit, Newland v. Sebelius, is in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
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