EWTN sues to block HHS mandate [CWN]

[sanctareparata]

catholicnewsagency.com/news/ewtn-sues-us-government-over-contraception-mandate/

"Irondale, Ala., Feb 9, 2012 / 10:00 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic media network EWTN sued the federal government Feb. 9, challenging the Obama administration’s rule requiring many religious ministries to subsidize contraception and sterilization in their health plans.

“We had no other option but to take this to the courts,” EWTN President and CEO Michael Warsaw said in an announcement about the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. “There is no question that this mandate violates our First Amendment rights.”

“Under the HHS mandate, EWTN is being forced by the government to make a choice,” Warsaw explained. “Either we provide employees coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs and violate our conscience or offer our employees and their families no health insurance coverage at all. Neither of those choices is acceptable.”

 

[barb_finnegan]

Yikes! EWTN filing a lawsuit? And against the federal government, no less?

I wonder what Mother Angelica would say about this, if she were able to speak?

(Yes, I know, she would make the same response as Michael Warsaw, and with her own brand of Italian bite, I’m sure).

I sure hope they know what they’re doin’…I hate the thought that if the network loses the lawsuit, then no EWTN! It would be shut down, pronto!

Now I don’t think we’d want that to happen…!

I’m just sayin…

 

[SonCatcher]

.I hate the thought that if the network loses the lawsuit, then no EWTN! It would be shut down, pronto!

That would be a violation of Freedom of the Press

 

[Teelynn]

That would be a violation of Freedom of the Press

And…I wonder how many other freedoms they are intent on violating?

 

[pnewton]

I think this is a case of EWTN taking up the sword and throwing down the gauntlet. The actions of the Administration are a violation of the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion. It is better they do this than the Catholic Church. Kudos to them for this brave action in the war against the evil one.

 

[Teelynn]

Yikes! EWTN filing a lawsuit? And against the federal government, no less?

I wonder what Mother Angelica would say about this, if she were able to speak?

(Yes, I know, she would make the same response as Michael Warsaw, and with her own brand of Italian bite, I’m sure).

I sure hope they know what they’re doin’…I hate the thought that if the network loses the lawsuit, then no EWTN! It would be shut down, pronto!

Now I don’t think we’d want that to happen…!

I’m just sayin…

Mother Angelica is no wall flower. Especially when it comes to defending the faith!
She’d have her battle gear on…ready to go!

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I am so proud of EWTN (again)

 

[JimG]

That would be a violation of Freedom of the Press

No, the administration and HHS would not prohibit EWTN from publishing or broadcasting. What they propose to do is simply to force it to violate it’s Catholic moral principles by paying for coverage of contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient pills. If it refuses to do that, as it must, there are fines imposed. The fines may cause it to go bankrupt, but that’s not violating press freedom, at least per HHS. That would just be the result of refusing to comply with an immoral government mandate.

 

[sedonaman]

And…I wonder how many other freedoms they are intent on violating?

All of them. Example: Speech codes are an intent to persecute.

Liberalism knows no bounds, by definition.

 

[sedonaman]

No, the administration and HHS would not prohibit EWTN from publishing or broadcasting. What they propose to do is simply to force it to violate it’s Catholic moral principles by paying for coverage of contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient pills. If it refuses to do that, as it must, there are fines imposed. The fines may cause it to go bankrupt, but that’s not violating press freedom, at least per HHS. That would just be the result of refusing to comply with an immoral government mandate.

They will just make up an excuse for revoking EWTN’s license to broadcast.

 

[SonCatcher]

No, the administration and HHS would not prohibit EWTN from publishing or broadcasting. What they propose to do is simply to force it to violate it’s Catholic moral principles by paying for coverage of contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient pills. If it refuses to do that, as it must, there are fines imposed. The fines may cause it to go bankrupt, but that’s not violating press freedom, at least per HHS. That would just be the result of refusing to comply with an immoral government mandate.

“bankrupt” and “shut down” are different things. If they go bankrupt, it is as you wrote. If they are shut down, it is a violation of the First Amendment.

 

[SonCatcher]

They will just make up an excuse for revoking EWTN’s license to broadcast.

And that would be a violation of Freedom of the Press

 

[JimG]

“bankrupt” and “shut down” are different things. If they go bankrupt, it is as you wrote. If they are shut down, it is a violation of the First Amendment.

Yes, the government wouldn’t shut them down by government decree, just a slow death by fines. Perhaps EWTN could refuse to pay the fines and we would be treated to the spectacle of EWTN managment in jail.

 

[sedonaman]

And that would be a violation of Freedom of the Press

So?

 

[_Abyssinia]

catholicnewsagency.com/news/ewtn-sues-us-government-over-contraception-mandate/

"Irondale, Ala., Feb 9, 2012 / 10:00 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic media network EWTN sued the federal government Feb. 9, challenging the Obama administration’s rule requiring many religious ministries to subsidize contraception and sterilization in their health plans.

“We had no other option but to take this to the courts,” EWTN President and CEO Michael Warsaw said in an announcement about the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. “There is no question that this mandate violates our First Amendment rights.”

“Under the HHS mandate, EWTN is being forced by the government to make a choice,” Warsaw explained. “Either we provide employees coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs and violate our conscience or offer our employees and their families no health insurance coverage at all. Neither of those choices is acceptable.”

 

[FatherOfTwelve]

Let’s start a “Collection” thread. Mother is going to need it!

 

[mommyof4]

Let’s start a “Collection” thread. Mother is going to need it!

Good idea.

 

[Tridentinum]

Excellent.

 

[unafraid]

Kudos to EWTN for practicing what they preach. A faith without the courage of its convictions is worth nothing.

And, if somehow, in the end, EWTN is brought down by the forces it opposes, then the network would live on in the hearts and minds of Catholics everywhere, as a noble entity that endured a particular sort of martyrdom for the cause of Christ.

Mother Angelica certainly approves of this type of bold defense of our religious freedoms. She is a woman of substantial resolve. Time for all of us to be so bold; we must stand up and resist!

 

[manualman]

I have no doubt that EWTN will refuse to comply when the time comes. My worry is whether the bishops will be as brave when the deadline comes. They’re at least starting to talk like shepherds confronting wolves. If we refuse to break, there’s really nothing they can do. There’s not enough jails to hold us all.