CUA ’Concerned as Ever’ About HHS Mandate

The faithful Catholic university is considering whether or not it should refile its lawsuit after its case was dismissed on procedural grounds.

In a statement to The Cardinal Newman Society, the general counsel for The Catholic University of America says that the faithful Catholic university continues to object strenuously to the HHS mandate.

Last week we reported that the faithful Catholic university was still deciding whether to re-file its lawsuit objecting to mandatory insurance for sterilization and contraception, including abortifacients. That suit was dismissed earlier this year on procedural grounds.

But General Counsel Lawrence J. Morris says in his statement that CUA’s position is firm:

We are as concerned as ever with the Mandate’s infringement on our religious liberty. Were it not for the Mandate, which was not contained anywhere in the Act itself, we would be free to continue our long standing practice of not offering contraceptives and abortifacients through our health plans. The so-called accommodation does not change the fact that we would be forced, through coercive and disabling fines, to serve as the conduit through which a contraceptive plan would be offered.

Without relief from the court, the mandate will go into effect next year for Catholic colleges and universities.

Originally published by Catholic Education Daily of the Cardinal Newman Society on July 29th, 2013.