New HHS Mandate Rules Force Hobby Lobby, Any Religious Biz to Comply
The Obama administration released new HHS mandate rules today that
attempt to expand the number of religious groups that can opt out of the
pro-abortion mandate — but that leaves religiously-run companies like
Hobby Lobby out in the cold. Pro-life
advocates oppose the mandate because it forces religious groups to pay
for birth control and drugs that may cause abortions.
Thanks to a number of decisions in court related to lawsuits filed
against the mandate by dozens of religious businesses and organizations,
the Obama administration is under court order to revise the mandate.
But the proposed changes don’t protect everyone who wants to opt out.
Although the proposed revisions provide some additional protections
for religiously-affiliated organizations, companies owned and operated
by people with religious objections to the mandate are not included in
the expanded exemption rules.
“Today, the administration is taking the next step in providing women
across the nation with coverage of recommended preventive care at no
cost, while respecting religious concerns,” said Health and Human
Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We will continue to work with
faith-based organizations, women’s organizations, insurers and others to
achieve these goals.”
But the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a
pro-life legal group representing Hobby Lobby, told LifeNews the
proposed changes would still force the company to comply with the
mandate.
“Today’s proposed rule does nothing to protect the religious liberty
of millions of Americans. The rights of family businesses like Hobby
Lobby are still being violated,” Kyle Duncan, General Counsel for The
Becket Fund For Religious Liberty, said.
He said, “The Becket Fund continues to study what effect, if any, the
Administration’s proposed rule has on the many lawsuits on behalf of
non-profit religious organizations like Ave Maria University, Belmont
Abbey College, Colorado Christian University, East Texas Baptist
University, EWTN, Houston Baptist University, and Wheaton College.”
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