{"id":271,"date":"2012-06-10T21:57:00","date_gmt":"2012-06-10T21:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/catholic-lawmaker-seeks-colleagues-support-for-hhs-mandate-suits\/"},"modified":"2012-06-10T21:57:00","modified_gmt":"2012-06-10T21:57:00","slug":"catholic-lawmaker-seeks-colleagues-support-for-hhs-mandate-suits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/06\/catholic-lawmaker-seeks-colleagues-support-for-hhs-mandate-suits\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic lawmaker seeks colleagues’ support for HHS mandate suits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Jun 10, 2012 \/ 03:57 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- A Catholic congressman from Louisiana is organizing an effort to have lawmakers file legal briefs in favor of lawsuits against the Obama administration\u2019s controversial contraception mandate.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIt\u2019s one way that members of Congress can get involved,\u201d said Rep. Jeff Landry (R-La.).<\/p>\n

\tHe told\u00a0CNA on June 6 that as a lawyer, he understands the effect of amicus briefs filed by members of Congress. While such legal briefs are not binding, they \u201cshow the support\u201d of U.S. legislators, he said.<\/p>\n

\tThe D.C.-based American Center for Law and Justice is helping draft the briefs, which should be finalized in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

\tCongress members will be able to sign on to the briefs arguing against a federal mandate that will require employers and colleges to offer health insurance plans that cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, even if doing so violates their consciences.<\/p>\n

\tThe regulation has drawn strong criticism for violating the religious freedom of those who object to it. Although it includes an exemption, it is so narrow that most religious organizations \u2013 including hospitals, schools and charitable agencies \u2013 would not qualify for it.<\/p>\n

\tA legislative attempt to secure a broader exemption for those with religious or moral objections was narrowly defeated in the Senate this past March.<\/p>\n

\tConcerned Americans are now increasingly turning to the courts to uphold their First Amendment freedoms. So far, the mandate has prompted a total of 23 lawsuits, filed by 56 plaintiffs in jurisdictions across the country.<\/p>\n

\tDioceses, colleges, Catholic Charities, private business owners and seven U.S. states are among those who have challenged the mandate. The cases may eventually be consolidated as they progress through the court system.<\/p>\n

\tRep. Landry explained that his briefs \u201cwill accompany each of the suits as they move through the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tLegislators in both the House and Senate are welcome to sign on to the briefs, and Rep. Landry said that he would love to see every member of Congress speak out against this \u201cclear violation\u201d of religious liberty.<\/p>\n

\tWith legislative efforts failing to yield results, he believes that the briefs \u201cgive us another avenue\u201d to join in the fight for freedom.<\/p>\n

\tRep. Landry said that his Catholic faith plays a strong role in shaping his decisions.<\/p>\n

\tHe related that he was born in Southern Louisiana in a \u201cdevout Roman Catholic family\u201d and earned a law degree from a Catholic university.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI was always taught that it\u2019s God first, then country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tThe congressman added that he shares the American founders\u2019 belief in the importance of religious liberty and freedom of conscience.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cOur form of government is based on Juedo-Christian principles,\u201d he said, explaining that he finds it \u201cextremely troubling\u201d that the administration would now \u201cignore\u201d the concerns of religious groups across the nation.<\/p>\n

\tHe also expressed concerns about the \u201cslippery slope\u201d that may form once liberties begin to erode.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIt strikes at the very foundation of what this country was founded upon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tRep. Landry believes that the mandate will ultimately come before the Supreme Court. While he does not know how the high court will rule, he hopes that it is \u201con the side of religious freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIt\u2019s pretty evident that if you read the Constitution, we\u2019re on the right side,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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