The following comes from an Oct. 29 story on the website of the Catholic News Agency.
A federal court in Florida has granted Ave Maria University preliminary protection from the federal contraception mandate, which the school has challenged on religious freedom grounds.
“After dozens of court rulings, the government still doesn’t seem to get that it can’t force faith institutions to violate their beliefs,” said Eric Baxter, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented the university.
“Fortunately, the courts continue to see through the government’s attempts to disguise the Mandate’s religious coercion,” Baxter said in an Oct. 28 statement. “We congratulate Ave Maria for its courage, even under the threat of crippling fines.”
On Oct. 28, a federal district court in Florida ruled that the new regulations surrounding the Department of Health and Human Services’ controversial contraceptive mandate do not adequately protect religious employers and their consciences.
In its decision, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida granted Ave Maria University preliminary protection from violating its deeply-held religious beliefs or being penalized with substantial fines….
The Florida court’s ruling on behalf of Ave Maria University protects the school from facing millions of dollars in fines that could have been levied against the school after the revised mandate would have taken effect on Nov. 1.
“The government has been retreating since it first issued the Mandate three years ago,” Baxter said. “Now it’s time for the government to stop going after religious colleges and ministries and start respecting religious liberty.”
To read the entire story, click here.
Ave Maria University in Florida is one of the Faithful and truly Catholic Universities in the USA.
It fully adheres to: the Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities (as required by all Colleges and Universities that advertise themselves as Catholic). –
” EX CORDE ECCLESIAE”
https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html
Core classes for all Students at Ave Maria = THEO 105 Sacred Scripture:
THEO 205 Sacred Doctrine; THEO 305 Living in Christ: Moral Theology.
The Ave Maria Oratory is shaped like a Bishop’s Mitre. And is now finished with a marble sculpture of the Annunication.
The exquisite Tabernacle is also shaped like a Bishops’ Mitre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJT_LV6zzA
They have a special Adoration Chapel open 24 hours a day for Perpetual Adoration.
It is beautiful and inspirational, if you get a chance to visit.
The Ave Maria University Chorus music adds to the Holy atmosphere. Listen to this – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDUstv5GXWE
Masses are both Ordinary Form and Extraordinary (Latin) Form daily.
It is sad that everyone has to go to Court for religious freedom.
Let people pay for their own Mortal Sins, and leave the rest of us alone.
The government cannot force Ave Maria University to violate their beliefs, but it can force them to make difficult choices.
FALSE Joel.
The Obama Administration wants to fine AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY much $$$$$$ more than they can afford – if they do not provide contraception and abortion in their insurance coverage for employees and students.
The fine would amount to millions per year.
This is a violation of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
Obama is evil, as are many of his Executive Orders.
It’s a sad commentary when Rev. Jenkins and the University of Notre Dame have proceeded in the opposite direction…
Walt, each Diocese Bishop has the authority to make Catholic Universities and Catholic Colleges within his Diocese ADHERE to:
” EX CORDE ECCLESIAE”
https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html
“Ex Corde Ecclesiae” along with Code of Canon Law 793 – 821 gives the Bishop the authority to make non-complying Colleges and Universities unable to advertise themselves as Catholic.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM
Diocese Bishops need to be pushed into doing their jobs, when they are lax,
or be told when something bad is happening within their own Diocese.
CCC: ” 907 In accord with the knowledge, competence, and preeminence which they possess, [lay people] have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church,
and they have a right to make their opinion known to the other Christian faithful,
with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons.”
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!!!