HHS mandate

MADISON, Ind. -- Grote Industries, a family-owned, worldwide manufacturer of vehicle lighting products based in Madison, Ind., was to face off in federal court May 22 against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate.

Although many other Catholic organizations and businesses owned by Catholics and other people morally opposed to the mandate have been granted preliminary injunctions, the Grote case is the first to receive a hearing on the merits of their case.

The Missouri Catholic Conference has expressed its disappointment with Attorney General Chris Koster's recent decision to not appeal a federal judge's ruling that struck down the conscience protections in SB 749, the law protecting the religious liberty of Missouri citizens. The law was passed last fall by the Missouri General Assembly.

WASHINGTON -- Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, said he has "deep gratitude" and "solidarity and appreciation" for those who have challenged the contraceptive mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that forces employers to pay for contraceptive services.

Catholic dioceses, as well as Catholic and other religious nonprofit organizations and businesses, have filed lawsuits challenging the HHS mandate that is part of the Affordable Care Act.

The Missouri bishops are among those urging Attorney General Chris Koster to appeal a judge's order that struck down a state law protecting religious liberties.

In addition, Missouri House Speaker Timothy Jones, R-Eureka, announced at a press conference March 28 in Springfield, Mo., that he has proposed a House Concurrent Resolution urging Koster to defend the law. The bill is HCR 35.

WASHINGTON -- The latest proposed federal rules covering religious institutions that want an exemption from the requirement to provide contraceptive coverage in health insurance make it clear that there's no inclination at the Department of Health and Human Services to accommodate for-profit secular corporations the same way as nonprofit religious institutions.

Our Lady's Inn, a maternity home for women facing unplanned pregnancies, has been denied a request to intervene in a lawsuit that seeks to stop Missouri's religious liberty law.

Last December, the Missouri Insurance Coalition filed a lawsuit seeking to stop enforcement of the law, which ensures that no one is forced to pay for abortion drugs and similar items in their health insurance if it violates their religious beliefs. The law, known as SB 749, initially was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon, but later overturned by the Missouri General Assembly in a special session last September.