Priests for Life lawyer says Obama Administration ‘trying desperately’ to get lawsuit against HHS mandate dismissed
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. /Christian Newswire/ — Priests for Life, a New York-based international pro-life organization of Catholic clergy and laity, announced on April 25 that the Obama Administration’s lawyers are trying desperately to “shut down” the lawsuit that’s been filed to stop ObamaCare from violating the conscience and morals of America’s Catholics.
The lawsuit, Priests for Life v. Sebelius, seeks to permanently block the implementation of the HHS mandate that imposes clear violations of conscience upon any and all citizens who morally object to abortion and contraception.
“Since the HHS mandate directly affects Priests for Life — and every U.S. citizen — through compulsory funding of contraception and abortion-inducing drugs and devices, our lawsuit is 100 percent legitimate,” says Priests for Life’s lead attorney Charles LiMandri.
LiMandri elaborates: “And yet, the Obama lawyers are trying to say that we don’t have ‘standing’ because the abortion mandate ‘doesn’t go into effect’ for PFL for several months. This is a thoroughly ridiculous and embarrassing argument for Obama’s attorneys to make. It shows how desperate they are to dismiss our lawsuit — even to the point of resorting to outrageous arguments such as the ones they’re using now.”
LiMandri points out that the HHS ‘Abortion Mandate’ forces Priests for Life to either pay for abortion-causing pills… promote them… or be heavily fined if their employee health-care plan doesn’t comply with the audacious dictatorial decrees of ObamaCare.
“According to the ObamaCare law as it’s written, Priests for Life would be fined as much as $100 per day, per employee,” noted LiMandri. “This could cost Priests for Life over $1 million a year in fines. And we’re not going to accept this at all.”
Priests for Life is preparing its response, which must be filed with the court by today, with the assistance of the American Freedom Law Center. The group’s attorneys are working overtime to respond so quickly.
“As our attorneys do their work, I ask our supporters to join in our prayer campaign and our Citizens’ Amicus brief,” said Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life. “Of this I am confident: We will prevail, life will prevail!”
READER COMMENTS |
Posted Monday, April 30, 2012 6:10 AM By JMJ |
Posted Monday, April 30, 2012 7:51 AM By Laurette Elsberry |
Posted Monday, April 30, 2012 8:54 AM By bud |
Posted Monday, April 30, 2012 12:58 PM By MAC |
Posted Monday, April 30, 2012 3:11 PM By Cheryl Kennedy |
Ashley, Abortions shouldn’t be twrohn around lightly, but sometimes they are the better route. The deliberate destruction of innocent pre-born humans is not the better route. A baby’s life ends, and a mother’s life is traumatized. (Please research post-abortion syndrome to learn more about this very real and tragic occurrence in post-abortive women.)You state that a woman who is raped shouldn’t have to carry around a reminder of that for nine months. Having an abortion will not remove the memory of the rape from the woman’s mind.If she has an abortion, she will have been violated twice, first at the hands of the rapist, and then at the hands of the abortionist. Women who have been raped need loving support, not further trauma.Ashley, I am very sorry if you are a woman who has been violated in such a manner. I and many others would be happy to pray for you. Pregnancy counseling centers are also beautiful, healing places to go for support in the event of unplanned pregnancy or post-abortion stress. And there are many loving couples, dearly desiring to adopt babies, who can give a child who would be born into a difficult situation a loving and stable home life.May God bless you with His peace.