With much of Washington already gone for the holiday, the Supreme Court issued a short legal ruling Thursday with the potential to deepen the political backlash among Democrats that was sparked by the court’s earlier Hobby Lobby decision.
The majority of the justices ruled that Wheaton College, a small evangelical school in Illinois, does not for now have to comply with the Obama administration’s requirement that it fill out a form to register religious objections to providing some types of contraceptive coverage mandated by the Affordable Care Act.
The opinion said that until full arguments are heard by the court, Wheaton need only file a letter with the federal government stating the college’s religious objections.
Legal experts say the temporary decision is likely to embolSden religious groups and lead to a wave of lawsuits and objections to the required form.
But some colleges and religious organizations say that signing the form authorizes third parties to provide contraceptive coverage, which, they say, still makes them complicit in actions that offend their religious beliefs.
What remains to be seen is whether the decision to allow Wheaton to operate outside of the mandate will further outrage women’s groups on the left, who are already likely to play a significant role in the 2014 midterm elections.
I hope I am reading this wrong but I seriously don’t think I am. Now the Supreme Court says that Wheaton College, who objects to providing contraception, doesn’t even have to fill out the forms objecting to providing contraception on religious grounds. Say what!!!??? filling out a form violates your religious sensibilities? Oh bullshit. I am calling bullshit on these justices. The female justices are outraged.
Supposedly, if the form is filled out, the government will provide contraception. That is why they won’t do it. The world is becoming insane.
No, I don’t think your reading it wrong Moon. I got the same gist from reading the article you posted. There is an easy fix though, just change to ACA requirement from a formal form to the form and/or letter. Done…
Then they would have something else to whine about. God didn’t let them touch pens or something absurd.
@Jackson Bills
They shouldn’t have to ask for permission to prevent a right from being infringed. The gov’t has to show why it should burden a right.
Oh groan. They just need to comply with administrative regulations. Fill out the effen form. Use the devil pen if that’s what it takes.
@Moon-howler
That sets a precedent. THAT is the problem. If they fill out the form, they accept the law as valid.
We are a nation of laws. If Wheaton doesn’t like the law, tough crap. There are lots of laws that I don’t like that I accept are law. Of course its a valid law.