{"id":787,"date":"2012-08-10T21:59:00","date_gmt":"2012-08-10T21:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/peoria-diocese-challenges-intrusive-hhs-mandate-exemption-process\/"},"modified":"2012-08-10T21:59:00","modified_gmt":"2012-08-10T21:59:00","slug":"peoria-diocese-challenges-intrusive-hhs-mandate-exemption-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/08\/peoria-diocese-challenges-intrusive-hhs-mandate-exemption-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Peoria diocese challenges ‘intrusive’ HHS mandate exemption process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Peoria, Ill., Aug 10, 2012 \/ 03:59 pm (CNA<\/a>).- The Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Ill. on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the HHS mandate, charging that it requires an \u201cintrusive government investigation\u201d to determine whether the diocese is exempt from the controversial federal rule.<\/p>\n

\tBishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria believes the new federal lawsuit is necessary because of a lack of effort on the part of the federal government to correct the mandate\u2019s flaws, the diocese said.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI have an obligation to protect the Church\u2019s ability to freely practice our religion,\u201d he said Aug. 9. \u201cAs Bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, I cannot remain silent while the right of Catholics to practice our faith is being so gravely threatened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe mandate requires most employers to provide insurance coverage for sterilization and contraception, including some abortion-causing drugs.<\/p>\n

\tThe diocese is unsure whether it qualifies for the mandate\u2019s narrow religious exemptions, which exempt organizations that primarily employ and serve their co-religionists for the purpose of the instilling religious values.<\/p>\n

\tThe lawsuit said that to discover whether the diocese is exempt, it must \u201csubmit to an intrusive governmental investigation\u201d to determine whether it qualifies. The lawsuit says the diocese\u2019s schools, parishes and social services are \u201copen to all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tBishop Jenky said that the United States\u2019 Founding Fathers \u201cclearly intended to keep the government out of the internal affairs of the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPatricia Gibson, Chancellor and Attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, further explained the reasons for the suit.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThis lawsuit is about one of America\u2019s most cherished freedoms; the freedom to practice one\u2019s religion without government interference,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is not about whether people have access to certain services; it is about whether the government may force religious institutions and individuals to facilitate and fund services which violate their religious beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe lawsuit contends that the mandate violates the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.<\/p>\n

\tThe Diocese of Peoria pointed out that the mandate\u2019s religious exemption excludes Catholic hospitals, schools, universities and social service providers.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cTo qualify for the exemption as it now stands, Catholic institutions would have to stop serving non-Catholics in need and stop employing non-Catholic employees,\u201d the diocese said. \u201cThis is in direct opposition to the Church\u2019s commitment to serve others, not because of their religious beliefs, but because of their inherent human dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe dioceses of Springfield and Joliet have filed suit against the mandate, as have more than 40 Catholic dioceses, organizations and institutions. The Chicago-based law firm Jones Day is handling the Diocese of Peoria\u2019s suit and several other anti-mandate cases.<\/p>\n

\t\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

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

Peoria, Ill., Aug 10, 2012 \/ 03:59 pm (CNA).- The Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Ill. on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the HHS mandate, charging that it requires an “intrusive government investigation” to determine whether the diocese is ex…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nPeoria diocese challenges 'intrusive' HHS mandate exemption process<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Peoria, Ill., Aug 10, 2012 \/ 03:59 pm (CNA).- The Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Ill. on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the HHS mandate, charging that it requires an “intrusive government investigation” to determine whether the diocese is ex...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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