A pro-life group of Catholic priests is refusing to obey a court ruling that it must provide birth control for employees as part of health insurance plans.
The United States DC Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a claim from Priests for Life that it should be exempt from the Obamacare legislation on grounds of religious freedom. A three-judge panel said that the regulations “do not impose a substantial burden on the Plaintiffs’ religious exercise.”
A statement from the national director of Priests of Life and Gospel of Life Ministries, Father Frank Pavone, denounced the judgement as “absurd”.
“Priests for Life will not obey the mandate! Not today. Not tomorrow. Now ever!” he said.
Father Pavone also told the Washington Times that “To ask a group of priests to cooperate in the government’s plan to expand access to birth control and abortion-inducing drugs is about as contrary to religious freedom as you can get.”
However, Judge Nina Pillard said that organisations that wish to opt out of the Affordable Care Act (AFA) are able to do so via a letter or two-page form in which they express their beliefs.
“Religious non-profits are excused from playing any role in the provision of contraceptive services, and they remain free to condemn contraception in the clearest terms,” she added…Read More
Source and Original Content by Christian Today