California Doubles Down on Rule Forcing Catholic Nuns to Pay for Abortion

Facing the threat of major cuts to federal HHS funds, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has said the state will not back down from its ban on health insurance plans that exclude abortion, even after federal authorities have sided with Catholic nuns who object to the ban.

The attorney general has accused the federal government of interfering in his state’s sovereign duty to protect women’s “reproductive rights.”

“Clearly, this is a disappointing response by the attorney general,” Stephen J. Greene, the attorney representing the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit religious sisters said in a statement sent to CNA on February 24.

“As we have repeatedly stated, our clients, the Guadalupanas, just want their conscience rights (and those of others who may hold different, but sincerely held views, as well) to be respected as provided for under the law.”

“At this point, my clients need to consider their next steps as does the federal government,” said Greene.

The Guadalupanas, whose province is headquartered in Los Angeles, are consecrated Catholic women who live among the poor and needy in inner city and rural areas. Their service includes teaching religion classes and working with destitute Spanish-speaking immigrants.

Their June 2017 complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights alleged that California’s 2014 rules mandating abortion coverage in health plans burdened their conscience rights and compelled them to fund “the practice of abortion on demand for other plan participants,” despite their Catholic beliefs that direct abortion is “gravely contrary to the moral law.”

"The attorney general has accused the federal government of interfering [??? emphasis added] in his state’s sovereign duty to protect women’s “reproductive rights.”"

FR: Never Accept the Premise of Your Opponent’s Argument

I looked up where California Attorney General Xavier Becerra went to law school. Although a very respected, top-rated school, I hope that somebody other than his family paid the tuition.

Regarding the nuns being oppressed by Becerra, please consider this. Not only have the states never amended the Constitution to expressly protect the post-17th Amendment ratification, politically correct “right” to murder unborn children, but they've expressly constitutionally given the feds the 14th Amendment (14A) power to strengthen constitutionally enumerated rights, 1st Amendment (1A)-protected religious expression and free speech in this example.

14th Amendment:

"Section 1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States [emphasis added]; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
"Section 5: The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."

In other words, the nuns’ constitutionally enumerated rights trump non-constitutionally enumerated state rights.

Also regarding 14A, since the Berkeley case referenced below was decided after Becerra became CAAG, I don’t understand why he is seemingly clueless to 14A protections. Insights welcome.

UC Berkeley relatively recently had to pay compensation under 14A concerning abridging 1A-protected free speech protections.
UC Berkeley settles landmark free speech lawsuit, will pay $70,000 to conservative group

Problem is that taxpayers, not Berkeley offending state actors, will probably pay compensation.
Patriots who value their constitutionally enumerated protections of freedom of religious expression and free speech, consider that Acts 22:25-29 shows that Apostle Paul got out of a flogging by claiming his Roman citizenship.

The problem with 14A is that it’s up to us patriots to elect a new patriot Congress that will not only promise to fully support PDJT’s vision for MAGA, now KAG, but will also do this.

New lawmakers also need to promise to give our 14A protection some teeth to discourage misguided people like Becerra from abridging constitutionally enumerated protections.

Remember in November!

MAGA, now KAGA! (Keep America Great Always!)

Supporting PDJT with a new patriot Congress that will promise to fully support his already excellent work for MAGA will effectively give fast-working Trump a third term in office imo.

Is California Attorney General Xavier Becerra a naked Communist?

Women have long enjoyed "reproductive liberty." Both genders possess the right and ability to choose whether to be sexually active as well as to choose to utilize any one of a number of birth control methods — none of which are under "siege" or threat of being denied to the citizenry.

Why does Becerra want to force Catholic nuns to help those who refuse to help themselves, that is, those with poor judgement. Is Becerra funded by abortionists?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.