Posted on 05/09/2014 7:06:10 AM PDT by xzins
WASHINGTON -- The Christian organization Priests for Life told a federal court Thursday that the HHS mandate requiring it to provide employees free contraception -- some of which induces abortion -- would force the group to violate the very reason for its existence.
Many religious organizations back Priests for Life in this case because they, too, could be forced to support a mandate that violates their faith.
"When a group like Priests for Life is being attacked, I think that says something," Alison Howard, with Concerned Women for America, said. "The pendulum's swung so far that the federal government could mandate a group of Catholic priests to fund exactly what they're working against."
Under the new federal law, such groups would be exempt from paying for the contraception if they sign a form allowing their health insurance to cover it.
But Father Frank Pavone, president of Priests for Life, said signing that paper would be cooperating with evil.
***More than a dozen pro-life leaders rallied outside the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., Thursday in support of Priests for Life. Father Frank Pavone shared his thoughts on the rally and his group's HHS mandate challenge, on CBN Newswatch, May 8.
"They're actually wanting to involve us by filling out a form that says 'Yes, we object,' but then they're using that essentially as the authorization for them to go ahead and do what we're saying should not be done," Pavone said.
According to American Freedom Law Center attorney Robert Muise, who represents Priests for Life, the government is saying the group must play ball or face paying fines of $100 a day on each of its 50 employees.
"When the religious believer is faced with a Hobson's Choice -- here that choice being you either violate the sacred tenets of your faith or you pay crippling fines -- that as a matter of law is a substantial burden," Muise explained.
Meanwhile, in another case, the Pacific Legal Foundation is representing Iowa artist Matt Sissel, who vehemently objects to the government forcing him to buy health insurance or pay hefty fines.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate's penalty for not having healthcare coverage is a tax.
PLF attorney Paul Beard argues that means the way Obamacare was created and passed in the Senate is unconstitutional.
"All revenue raising bills must originate in the House of Representatives -- the chamber closest to the people," Beard explained. "This bill, Obamacare -- with all its tax-raising provisions -- actually originated in the Senate. And that's the unconstitutional problem."
If Beard's side wins, that could gut the very core of Obamacare.
Is it possible that anyone with an ounce of sense doesn’t realize that asking a group called “Priests for Life” to approve of abortion, abortifacients, or contraception would be an abomination to their belief system?
“If Beard’s side wins, that could gut the very core of Obamacare.”
Disembowelment of ACA sounds delightful!
No. Decent people oppose this evil mandate because it is evil. Even though I don't have a moral objection to birth control, I find it shocking that any official at any level of government would attempt to compel someone who religiously or morally objects to birth control to pay for birth control anyways. The level of evil in the Obama administration is striking, and I will never forgive anyone who participates in this evil. Among other things, I will never vote for anyone who serves Obama at any level in any capacity.
It is true that Priest for Life reject birth control. It is also, as you say, that we reject evil because it is evil.
However, the Priests for Life charter is to speak out about LIFE. Therefore, their main objection is about abortion, abortifacients, or any other birth control method that ends a life.
Obviously, being Catholic, they do not support birth control. Many other denominations and individual Christians, however, might accept a few forms of pregnancy preventing birth control, but not accept any form of killing a conceived child.
Hobby Lobby, for example, is also being forced to support a mandate that violates their faith.
At least that is truthful. It is a diktat from an unelected, untouchable, minister. However, under our system, only laws should be obeyed.
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