By a margin of two votes, the South Australia House of Assembly rejected the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2012, a private member’s bill. [ABC News] The bill included a protection of conscience provision.
Category: Law
12 lawsuits, 43 plaintiffs sue US federal government over birth control mandate
43 Catholic dioceses, organizations and and institutions have filed 12 lawsuits against the U.S. federal government to stop the federal regulation that will compel objecting employers to provide insurance for contraceptives, embryocides and sterilization. The news has been welcomed by the Catholic Medical Association, and applauded by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops as “a compelling display of the unity of the Church in defense of religious liberty.” The Conference is not a party to the suits [CMA news release; USCCB news release; Washington Examiner]. The lawsuits and plaintiffs are:
1. District of Columbia Lawsuit
- Archdiocese of Washington
- Consortium of Catholic Academies
- Archbishop Carroll High School
- Catholic Charities of D.C.
- The Catholic University of America
2. E.D.N.Y. Lawsuit
- Diocese of Rockville Centre
- Catholic Health Services of Long Island
- Catholic Charities of Rockville Centre
- Archdiocese of N.Y.
- ArchCare
3. W.D.Pa. (Erie Div.) Lawsuit
- Diocese of Erie
- St. Martin Center
- Prince of Peace Center
4. W.D.Pa. (Pitt. Div.) Lawsuit
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Catholic Charities of Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Catholic Cemeteries Association of Diocese of Pittsburgh
5. N.D.Tex. (Dallas Div.) Lawsuit
- Diocese of Dallas
6. N.D.Tex. (Fort Worth Div.) Lawsuit
- Diocese of Fort Worth
7. S.D. Ohio (Columbus Div.) Lawsuit
- Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Michigan Catholic Conference
8. S.D.Miss. (Gulfport Div.) Lawsuit
- Diocese of Jackson
- Catholic Charities of Jackson
- Vicksburg Catholic School
- St. Joseph’s Catholic School
- Diocese of Biloxi
- De l’Epee Deaf Center Inc.
- Catholic Social & Community Services Inc.
- Resurrection Catholic School
- Sacred Heart Catholic School
- St. Dominic Health Services
9. N.D.Ind. (South Bend Div.) Lawsuit
- The University of Notre Dame
10. N.D. Ind. (Fort Wayne Div.) Lawsuit
- Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
- Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne-South Bend
- St. Anne Home
- Franciscan Alliance
- Our Sunday Visitor
- University of St. Francis
11. N.D.Ill. Lawsuit
- Diocese of Joliet
- Catholic Charities of Joliet
- Diocese of Springfield
- Catholic Charities of Springfield
12. E.D.Mo. (St. Louis Div.)
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Catholic Charities of St. Louis
Kansas conscience protection bill becomes law
Arizona Governor signs protection of conscience law
Senate Bill 1365 (2012) has been signed by the Governor of Arizona. It was drafted to ensure that professionals cannot be disciplined for refusing to provide services to which they object for reasons of conscience.
Catholic business group files lawsuit against US federal government
A lawsuit has been filed against the U.S. federal government in Michigan by Legatus, a national organization of Catholic business leaders, and the Weingartz Supply Company, a Michigan retailer, the President of which is a member of Legatus. The suit seeks a permanent injunction against the HHS regulation that requires employers to provide health insurance coverage for birth control and sterilization on the grounds that the law violates freedom of conscience and religion. [News Release]