Grace Wins Federal Court Case Over Abortion-Pill Mandate
June 8, 2018 at 4:53 p.m.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana issued a decision Monday in the abortion-pill mandate case in which Grace College & Seminary was one of two plaintiffs.
The injunction protects religious institutions like Grace from the Obamacare abortifacient mandate, according to a story published on the Grace website Wednesday. “No longer will Christian colleges and organizations be forced to provide abortion-inducing drugs and contraception through their employee health plans or risk heavy penalties from the federal government. The decision represents a significant win for religious freedom in America,” the story reads.
Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College & Seminary, issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the court decision: “We are heartened and encouraged by the district court’s ruling in our favor, affirming that Christian institutions like ours should not be forced to abandon our religious beliefs to remain lawful. We will continue to provide excellent health care benefits to our employees that maintain our moral convictions, including the sanctity of human life.”
Third District Congressman Jim Banks on Wednesday released the following statement: “This week, the First Amendment was upheld at the Supreme Court in the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop and right here at home with Grace College and Seminary. Grace College rightfully pushed back against the Obama-era HHS abortion-pill mandate that unconstitutionally forced employers to violate their beliefs. This is not only a win for Hoosiers in northeast Indiana, but for religious liberty all across America.”
On Monday, Judge Jon E. DiGuilio, U.S. District Court for Northern Indiana, South Bend, ruled that the federal government cannot force Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake to provide abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraception through their health plans under threat of heavy penalties, ending a six-year dispute.
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The Journal Gazette reported that DiGuilio wrote that those who filed suit had shown they would suffer “irreparable harm” because they “can either follow their religious beliefs and incur substantial financial penalties or violate their religious beliefs by providing access to objectionable contraceptive services.”
The penalties are described in the suit as $100 per affected beneficiary per day or $2,000 per employee per year if the institutions dropped their health plans, according to the Fort Wayne newspaper. The order does not make clear how and when such penalties would be levied.
The judge also wrote that the public interest would be served by upholding religious freedom and by the institutions continuing to provide education and health insurance to students and employees, according to the Journal Gazette.
Grace College and Seminary was represented by attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana issued a decision Monday in the abortion-pill mandate case in which Grace College & Seminary was one of two plaintiffs.
The injunction protects religious institutions like Grace from the Obamacare abortifacient mandate, according to a story published on the Grace website Wednesday. “No longer will Christian colleges and organizations be forced to provide abortion-inducing drugs and contraception through their employee health plans or risk heavy penalties from the federal government. The decision represents a significant win for religious freedom in America,” the story reads.
Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College & Seminary, issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the court decision: “We are heartened and encouraged by the district court’s ruling in our favor, affirming that Christian institutions like ours should not be forced to abandon our religious beliefs to remain lawful. We will continue to provide excellent health care benefits to our employees that maintain our moral convictions, including the sanctity of human life.”
Third District Congressman Jim Banks on Wednesday released the following statement: “This week, the First Amendment was upheld at the Supreme Court in the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop and right here at home with Grace College and Seminary. Grace College rightfully pushed back against the Obama-era HHS abortion-pill mandate that unconstitutionally forced employers to violate their beliefs. This is not only a win for Hoosiers in northeast Indiana, but for religious liberty all across America.”
On Monday, Judge Jon E. DiGuilio, U.S. District Court for Northern Indiana, South Bend, ruled that the federal government cannot force Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake to provide abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraception through their health plans under threat of heavy penalties, ending a six-year dispute.
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The Journal Gazette reported that DiGuilio wrote that those who filed suit had shown they would suffer “irreparable harm” because they “can either follow their religious beliefs and incur substantial financial penalties or violate their religious beliefs by providing access to objectionable contraceptive services.”
The penalties are described in the suit as $100 per affected beneficiary per day or $2,000 per employee per year if the institutions dropped their health plans, according to the Fort Wayne newspaper. The order does not make clear how and when such penalties would be levied.
The judge also wrote that the public interest would be served by upholding religious freedom and by the institutions continuing to provide education and health insurance to students and employees, according to the Journal Gazette.
Grace College and Seminary was represented by attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom.