The following comes from a March 23 Catholic News Agency article by Matt Hadro:
The case Zubik v. Burwell is a combination of seven cases before the Supreme Court against the “accommodation” offered to religious non-profits by the Obama administration regarding its federal contraception mandate. Plaintiffs include the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Archdiocese of Washington, Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh, and several Christian colleges.
Paul D. Clement, arguing for the Little Sisters and their fellow petitioners before the court on Wednesday, said this process still demands more than a simple opt-out. It forces the Little Sisters and other religious charities to fill out a form they know will ultimately facilitate access to birth control against their religious beliefs, he said.
The government also enforces this measure with “massive penalties,” he added. The Little Sisters could pay up to $70 million a year in fines if the mandate goes into effect and they do not comply with accommodation.
However, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued during the hearing, “the insurer or the TPA is then not dealing with the employer at all.” The employer “could say, ‘I fill out the form. I do not authorize. I do not permit. It won’t make any difference’.”
“It makes all the difference, Justice Ginsburg,” Clement countered. “If we don’t provide the form, then the coverage doesn’t flow.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor responded that tension between laws and the religious beliefs of persons is inevitable, and that if all requests for religious exemption from laws were honored, government actions could not be enforceable.
“Because every believer that’s ever come before us, including the people in the military, are saying that ‘my soul will be damned in some way’,” she said of requests for religious exemptions from laws and actions like a military draft. If that burden will “always” be “substantial,” she added, and all religious exemptions are honored, “how will we ever have a government that functions?”
Aside from a cloistered monk or hermit, Justice Stephen Breyer noted, a “religious person” living in society may “have to accept all kinds of things that are just terrible for him.” Quakers must pay taxes for a war they conscientiously object to, he said. Religious people against blasphemy might not like First Amendment protections of it.
Noel Francisco, also arguing for the plaintiffs, said that religious non-profits should get the same protections as churches, which are exempt from the mandate.
Justice Elena Kagan pressed him on expanding religious exemptions to charities and non-profits.
“I thought there was a very strong tradition in this country, which is that when it comes to religious exercises, churches are special,” she said. If these religious protections are expanded to include “all religious people,” she argued, “then the effect of that is that Congress just decides not to give an exemption at all.”
Our once-great country was originally founded very definitely, on Judeo-Christian Biblical principles! You cannot throw all that away– and foolishly establish a false American Way of Life, based on the individual’s “right to sin,” and create a country of anti-society, anti-God, anti-religion, immoral “hippie outlaws” and criminals!! Plus– the life of a child in the womb– created by Almighty God– is SACRED!! You cannot simply throw a child’s life away– and uphold the false “rights” of immoral mothers, to lead lives of ugly, degrading sin– and even to heartlessly kill their own children, if they wish!
Those who are basically anti-society, anti-God and religion, and against all morality and decency– should never be in the mainstream of a society, nor should they ever be allowed to serve in any leadership positions! Instead , such unstable, immoral, SUBVERSIVE “hippie radicals,” like many in our government, and on the Supreme Court– should be carefully monitored, as “fringe” people, of highly questionable moral character, highly questionable motives– very dangerous to the good of our country! Our government should monitor such people, like other “fringe” people, including SUBVERSIVE, dangerous Islamic terrorists!
Justice: How Can Gov’t Function If It Can’t Make People Do Things They Believe Will Damn Their Souls?
https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/terence-p-jeffrey/justice-how-can-govt-function-if-it-cant-make-people-do-things-they-believe
In oral arguments in the Supreme Court yesterday in ‘Zubik v. Burwell’, Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked an attorney representing…
Little Sisters of the Poor whether the United States government would ever be able to function if it could not demand that people do things that those people believe will cause their souls to “be damned in some way.”
“Because every believer that’s ever come before us, including the people in the military, are saying that my soul will be damned in some way,” said Sotomayor. “I’m…
As one targeted on the “Lavender Liberal” homosex stalker’s listing – in retaliation for having donated small amounts to two groups on the Winning Side in CA Proposition 8; placing Marriage (Man XY & Woman XX) in the State Constitution…
The Recent 6th US Federal Circuit case on IRS & Administration Targeting and Retaliation is most interesting and well worth the read:
SEE
Federal appeals court slams IRS in Tea Party case, demands documents
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/24/federal-appeals-court-slams-irs-in-tea-party-case-demands-documents.html
In a blistering rebuke of the IRS, a Cincinnati-based federal appeals court has ordered the tax-collecting agency to quit stalling and produce the names of organizations it…
Bias, Obstruction, Hiding Emails & Evidence by the Admin, IRS, DOJ…
Gosh – sounds a lot like my case still pending at the 9th Circuit (McDermott versus Blank and Census 2010 Et. Al; Cv. 14-35022) – Only more seem to have taken to the 5th Amendment (like IRS Comm Lerner) in response to revelations.
What chance in Court for Catholics punished for attending Catholic Conferences – Perhaps Some
SEE
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/24/federal-appeals-court-slams-irs-in-tea-party-case-demands-documents.html
Federal appeals court slams IRS in Tea Party case, demands documents
In a blistering rebuke of the IRS, a Cincinnati-based federal appeals court has ordered the tax-collecting agency to quit stalling and…
Mother Angelica of EWTN passed away yesterday, Easter Sunday. May her soul, though the mercy of God rest in peace. If ever there was saint, she was one. My only regret is that I never sent messages to her that I did pray for her, but I believe she knows that now.
One thing amazing about Mother Angelica is that although she was mistreated by her own father and some of her male relatives, she never let it turn to hate for all men.
The above Anonymous post today at 10:17 am was Anne T. — me. Sorry for the confusion.
Meet Obama’s Newest Trans Appointee: Attorney Shannon Minter
https://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2015/06/09/meet- obamas-newest-trans-appointee-attorney-shannon-minter
(SHE) was the lead attorney arguing before the California Supreme Court for the overturn of Proposition 8, the voter-approved ballot measure…
Though Minter lost that case, the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 affirmed a federal judge’s decision striking down Prop. 8. Minter was indirectly…
Minter, who is based in San Francisco, now joins the Obama administration’s three other openly trans appointees, which include the Defense Department’s Amanda Simpson and Shawn Skelly, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Jay Davis..
&
Amanda Simpson…