Supreme Court rules in favor of Little Sisters of the Poor in ObamaCare contraception case
By: Tyler Olson (Fox News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Judge Andrew Napolitano analyzes the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor in the Obamacare contraceptive case
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration acted within its authority when it expanded exemptions to the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) requirement for employers to provide insurance coverage that includes contraception -- in a victory for Little Sisters of the Poor, the Catholic group that has been at the center of the national debate over the mandate.
The court ruled 7-2 in favor of the Trump administration and a Catholic charity that cares for the elderly in two related disputes against Pennsylvania, which sued over the validity of a rule from the Trump administration that allowed religious-affiliated groups and some for-profit companies to opt-out of providing contraception coverage to employees.
The majority opinion, written by Justice Clarance Thomas, ruled that the Trump administration's challenged rulemaking was aboveboard, and hailed the work of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
"For over 150 years, the Little Sisters have engaged in faithful service and sacrifice, motivated by a religious calling to surrender all for the sake of their brother," Thomas wrote. "But for the past seven years, they—like many other religious objectors who have participated in the litigation and rulemakings leading up to today's decision— have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs."
He added: "We hold today that the Departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption, as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption. We further hold that the rules promulgating these exemptions are free from procedural defects."
Lower court rulings had gone against the administration, with a nationwide injunction putting the exemptions on hold. But the Supreme Court's ruling Wednesday amounts to a huge win for religious conservatives who have been battling the ACA's contraceptive mandate for years.
The justices this fall will hear a broader challenge to Obamacare, and requests by the current administration and some red-leaning states to invalidate the entire Affordable Care Act. It is a move opposed by the Democratic-led House and a coalition of other states.
Fox News' Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Tyler Olson covers politics for FoxNews.com.
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This would be the final decisive victory for the "Little Sisters" over Barak Obama!
“For over 150 years, the Little Sisters have engaged in faithful service and sacrifice, motivated by a religious calling to surrender all for the sake of their brother,” wrote Justice Clarence Thomas for the majority.
“But for the past seven years, they—like many other religious objectors who have participated in the litigation and rulemakings leading up to today’s decision— have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Not surprising that Ginsnerg and Sotomayor were the dissenting justices. Surprised Kagan didn't join them. Ginsberg is far out of touch with current realities and Sotomayor is so far left she probably expects contraceptives should be provided free by the government no matter what.
I was a little surprised as well.
Time for her to retire. She seems to have forgotten the 1st Amendment.
An excellent time!
I thought they could get a months supply of contraceptives at Walmart for $4
I am more concerned that a leftist court would infringe upon the freedom of religion.
I just had a knuckle beating flashback.
Those nuns sure did wield a wicked ruler .....
This might be off-topic, but aren't the old ladies in their habits adorable?
Anyway, they seem pretty confident that they will have no need of contraceptives. It's hard to disagree with that.
This will make the problem of overpopulation worse
Agreed. The infinite spawn of nuns who just can't keep their legs closed is leeching the planet of its resources.
Some cheap assed or overly religious employers will use this to deny benefits to females who could use it
Well, if they can avoid it, those females should not work for them. But the fact that this came up with group of nuns is pretty crazy. This isn't like Hobby Lobby where it's a kind of normal business. They're nuns!
All in all, it's been a nice little streak for religious freedom!