Catholic Colleges Outnumbered by Other Christian Colleges Suing HHS

The Cardinal Newman Society ^ | 10/10/12 | Matthew Archbold

[marshmallow]

For months, it’s been wrongly proclaimed that opposition to the HHS contraceptive mandate was a Catholic thing. Instead, with regard to colleges and universities, we might wish for more Catholic engagement.

With the announcement that East Texas Baptist University and Houston Baptist University filed lawsuits against the mandate, Catholic colleges suing the Administration are now outnumbered by non-Catholic Christian colleges.

According to The Becket Fund, 15 colleges are suing the Administration including seven Catholic colleges: Belmont Abbey College, Aquinas College in Nashville, Ave Maria University, the Catholic University of America, the Franciscan University of Steubenville, the University of St. Francis, and the University of Notre Dame.

While the number of lawsuits from Protestant and nondenominational colleges is great news for Christian unity, it also begs the question as to why there aren’t more Catholic colleges and universities joining the opposition to the infringement of religious liberty, especially larger institutions with resources.

Five of the seven Catholic colleges filing suits are among the faithful Catholic colleges recommended in The Newman Guide. Other Newman Guide colleges have been advised by attorneys not to sue—at least not yet—because of particular circumstances, likelihood of success, and lack of substantial resources. But all have been quite vocal against the HHS mandate, and many have participated in The Cardinal Newman Society’s formal appeals to HHS.

The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), representing more than 200 institutions, has reportedly been engaged with the U.S. bishops conference in legislative efforts and appeals to HHS.

Nevertheless, the ACCU recognizes the special importance of the existing lawsuits, according to an ACCU press release: “[T]hese lawsuits now sit as the primary means to defend the free exercise of religion without government interference—a fundamental right that remains too precious to let slip away.”

[marshmallow]

Not one of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. has joined in a lawsuit against HHS.

Figures......

[Westbrook]

Doesn’t matter.

The lawsuits will be dismissed by the courts.

Even if the Congress passes legislation against the regulation, and even if a president signs it into law, a very unlikely scenario in any event, the courts will still overturn it.

We are being assimilated into the Collective, slowly and painfully.

[Mrs. Don-o]

`

[txrefugee]

Catholic universities and charities are in the government trough, swilling up as many taxpayer dollars as they can get. They are afraid of losing their part of Obama’s stash if they anger their government paymasters.

[Alex Murphy]

For months, it’s been wrongly proclaimed that opposition to the HHS contraceptive mandate was a Catholic thing. Instead, with regard to colleges and universities, we might wish for more Catholic engagement....While the number of lawsuits from Protestant and nondenominational colleges is great news for Christian unity, it also begs the question as to why there aren’t more Catholic colleges and universities joining the opposition to the infringement of religious liberty, especially larger institutions with resources.

Ping for later

[El Cid]

Now this is a competition I can get behind. Eight 'other Christian' Colleges vs. seven Catholic Colleges... Come on team - let's start getting more schools on the 'sue the HHS' list.
I hope the numbers get closer to 100 vs. 101, or something along that order (although I share your suspicion that the Jesuit schools won't be amongst them).