A federal court ordered an injunction Friday halting the implementation of a mandate that would require a Catholic-owned business in Denver to offer insurance coverage for contraception and potential abortion-inducing drugs as a federal court case proceeds.
The Newland family owns a private company that makes heating and air conditioning units. The Obama administration has given all secular businesses a deadline of Aug. 1 to begin offering the insurance when their next enrollment period begins, which people of faith say violates their consciences. Faith-based groups, such as Catholic hospitals, universities and nonprofit ministries, have until August 2013 to comply.
“Every American, including family business owners, should be free to live and do business according to their faith,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Matt Bowman, who is representing the Newland family. “For the time being, Hercules Industries will be able to do just that.”
Bowman said the mandate could harm the Newland family business.
“The cost of freedom for this family could be millions of dollars per year in fines that will cripple their business if the Obama administration ultimately has its way,” Bowman said. “This lawsuit seeks to ensure that Washington bureaucrats cannot force families to abandon their faith just to earn a living. Americans don’t want politicians and bureaucrats deciding what faith is, who the faithful are, and where and how that faith may be lived out.”
A trial date has not been set.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the judge’s order in Newland v. Sebelius.
Contact: Bethany Monk
Source: CitizenLink
