SUPREME COURT-BIRTH CONTROL
High court seems divided over birth control rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seems divided over whether companies have religious rights that should exempt them from the health care law’s birth control mandate.
The case involves family-owned companies that provide health insurance to their employees, but object to covering certain methods of birth control that they say can work after conception, in violation of their religious beliefs.
Tuesday’s arguments at the court focused mainly on the question of whether profit-making businesses have religious rights. The Obama administration says they don’t, but lawyers for Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties argue that a 1993 federal law on religious freedom extends to businesses as well as individuals.
If the justices agree, they would have to decide whether the government policy is crucial and is put in place in the least objectionable way possible.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, whose vote could decide the case, showed interest in the argument that the companies could stop offering health insurance and instead pay a tax of $2,000 per employee. That route might allow the court to sidestep the thorniest questions in the case.
Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed)
241-v-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The Supreme Court seems divided over whether employers’ religious beliefs should exempt them from the health care law’s birth control mandate. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (25 Mar 2014)
< 242-a-14-(Barbara Green, whose family owns Hobby Lobby, with reporters outside Supreme Court)-“on religious freedom”-Barbara Green, whose family owns Hobby Lobby, says they won’t cover contraceptives mandated by the health care law. (25 Mar 2014) < 243-a-08-(Anthony Hahn, whose family owns Conestoga Wood Specialties, with reporters outside Supreme Court)-“making a living”-Anthony Hahn, whose family owns Conestoga Wood Specialties, says Americans shouldn’t lose their religious rights when they go into business. (25 Mar 2014) < 245-a-11-(Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, with reporters outside Supreme Court)-“their bosses’ decision”-Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, says she believes the Supreme Court will uphold the birth control mandate. (25 Mar 2014) < 206-w-34-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent, with prayers and Dr. Mark Hathaway, director of family planning, Unity Health Care)–Religious convictions and a health care mandate for contraceptives collided in front of the Supreme Court today. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. ((closes with sound)) (25 Mar 2014) < 207-a-14-(Senator Ted Cruz, R- Texas, addressing pro-Hobby Lobby rally)-“in the way”-Texas Senator Ted Cruz says the owners of Hobby Lobby have a right to follow their religious convictions. (25 Mar 2014) < 162-r-33-(Sound of protesters chanting, at Supreme Court pro-birth control rally)–Sound of protesters chanting at a pro-birth control rally at the Supreme Court. (25 Mar 2014) < CHURCHES-WORLD VISION-GAY MARRIAGE Church leaders denounce charity’s decision to hire married gays SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Leaders of the Assemblies of God and the Southern Baptist Convention are denouncing World Vision’s announcement that it will start hiring Christians in same-sex marriages. The Rev. George Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, calls World Vision’s decision “a fundamental shift away from a normative biblical understanding of marriage.” Wood adds that Assemblies of God churches and members should begin shifting their support to other charities. World Vision President Rich Stearns said it’s not endorsing same-sex marriage, but has “chosen to defer to the authority of local churches” on the issue. But the Southern Baptists’ public policy chief, the Rev. Russell Moore, writes that if what the Bible teaches is true, “then refusing to call for repentance is unspeakably cruel and, in fact, devilish.” World Vision is currently sponsoring the national concert tour by the Christian band Casting Crowns. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 277-v-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–Leaders of the Assemblies of God and the Southern Baptist Convention are denouncing World Vision’s announcement that it will start hiring Christians who are in same-sex marriages. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (25 Mar 2014) < CONSERVATIVES-RUSSIA US conservatives suspend plans for Moscow meeting BOSTON (AP) — A U.S.-based conservative group that supports Russia’s efforts to curtail gay rights and abortion is suspending its plans for an international conference in Moscow this September because of the turmoil related to Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The World Congress of Families said Tuesday the uncertain political situation — including sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S. and some European countries — “has raised questions about travel, logistics and other matters” essential to planning for the conference. A statement by the congress says the suspension “is not meant to reflect negatively on the Russian people, churches or individuals who have taken a leadership role in the fight to preserve life, marriage, and the natural family.” It adds, “At a time when Western governments are moving backward to a pagan worldview, Russia has taken a leadership role.” Similar views were expressed last week by the Rev. Franklin Graham. In a column supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance on gays, Graham wrote, “Isn’t it sad … that America’s own morality has fallen so far that on this issue — protecting children from any homosexual agenda or propaganda — Russia’s standard is higher than our own?” Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 319-w-58-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Don Feder, communications director for the World Congress of Families)–A Closer Look: An U.S.-based group that supports Russia’s efforts to curtail gay rights and abortion suspends planning for a conference in Moscow. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (25 Mar 2014) < 281-a-06-(Don Feder (FEH’-dur), communications director for the World Congress of Families, in AP interview)-“and nothing else”-Don Feder, communications director for the World Congress of Families, says its suspension of planning for a September meeting in Moscow isn’t a protest of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. (25 Mar 2014) < 282-a-06-(Don Feder (FEH’-dur), communications director for the World Congress of Families, in AP interview)-“alternative sexual lifestyles”-Don Feder, communications director for the World Congress of Families, says the group supports Russia’s ban on gay propaganda that children could access. (25 Mar 2014) < 283-a-08-(Don Feder (FEH’-dur), communications director for the World Congress of Families, in AP interview)-“the United States”-Don Feder, communications director for the World Congress of Families, says Russia still defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. (25 Mar 2014) < 284-a-07-(Don Feder (FEH’-dur), communications director for the World Congress of Families, in AP interview)-“a peaceful resolution”-Don Feder, communications director for the World Congress of Families, says the group has no position on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. (25 Mar 2014) < CONTRACEPTION LETTER-LINCOLN BISHOP Nebraska bishop reaffirms birth control prohibition LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska is reminding the Lincoln diocese’s nearly 98,000 Catholics that the church has not lifted its prohibition on the use of contraceptives. Bishop James Conley told the Lincoln Journal Star that he chose to release a letter on the issue during Lent because of its theme of love, and sacrifice as the language of love. Conley told the newspaper that “we really live in a wounded world when it comes to the family.” In his letter issued Tuesday, Conley says marriage was created “to be unifying and procreative” and that the church “has always taught that rejecting the gift of children erodes the love between husband and wife.” SURROGACY BIRTHS Compromise surrogacy bill advances in La. House BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers seeking to create a regulatory framework for surrogate births in Louisiana have reached a compromise with Christian conservatives who initially opposed the effort. That support could help sway Gov. Bobby Jindal, who vetoed a similar bill last year. Surrogacy is the arrangement when a woman carries a child to birth for another couple. State Rep. Joe Lopinto says he’s pushing the legislation to add restrictions to surrogate births that are taking place without guidelines on who can be a surrogate and the rights of parents. The House civil law committee advanced the proposal to the House without objection Tuesday. Leading social conservatives removed their objections after Lopinto agreed to prohibit compensation for the surrogate and add other limits. The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops remains opposed to the measure. BALL STATE-INTELLIGENT DESIGN Ball State, legislators to talk intelligent design MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Ball State University’s president is planning to meet with four conservative Indiana legislators who have questioned her decision to prohibit the teaching of intelligent design in a science course. Ball State President Jo Ann Gora is inviting the lawmakers to the Muncie campus following their letter this month about whether the school had violated the religious and academic freedoms of the professor involved. The Star Press reports that Gora wrote to the legislators that she felt it would be more productive to talk in person. The inquiry is from three Republican state senators and a Republican House member. They say they might seek legislative action over the treatment of the physics professor who faced complaints of teaching creationism. REBHORN’S LAST WORD Actor writes his own obituary NEW YORK (AP) — Actor James Rebhorn is having the last word. The character actor who appeared in “Homeland” and “Scent of a Woman” penned his own obituary that appeared on his church’s website in New Jersey. Rebhorn, a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Jersey City, died Friday at age 65 of skin cancer. Rebhorn wrote that his parents gave him his faith and encouraged him to stay in touch with God. He added that without his wife and two daughters “his life would have been little more than a vapor.” He urged his children to mourn him only as long as necessary, because “they have much good work to do, and they should get busy doing it.” Rebhorn concluded that he was a lucky man in every way. VATICAN-US-POPE US lobbies Vatican for pope visit in 2015 VATICAN CITY (AP) — U.S. officials have made their case to the Vatican for Pope Francis to visit the U.S. next year, saying his “message needs to be heard” during a massive church celebration of the family planned for Philadelphia. The governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter made their pitch Tuesday to Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, whose Pontifical Council for the Family is helping organize the Sept. 22-27, 2015, meeting. Popes have attended five of the seven World Meetings of the Family, and Francis has made family issues the top priority of his pontificate. But no confirmation of his participation is expected before next year. Nutter said the event offers Francis a “unique moment in our common history and a signature opportunity” to speak about family concerns to a huge audience.
