Lawyers want contraceptive mandate lawsuit thrown out

The U.S. asked a federal judge to dismiss a St. Louis business owner’s lawsuit challenging a requirement that businesses offer employees contraception coverage through health-care insurance.

Catholic businessman Frank O’Brien and his St. Louis-based O’Brien Industrial Holdings LLC sued the U.S. in March, arguing the mandate unconstitutionally violates his religious beliefs and the principals he applies to his company.

Lawyers for the government, in papers filed yesterday with U.S. District Judge Carol E. Jackson in St. Louis, said O’Brien failed to allege the mandate “substantially” burdened his religious freedom.

“Even if there is a substantial burden, the preventive services coverage regulations serve a compelling governmental interest,” according to the U.S., and “are the least restrictive means to achieve that interest.”

Forty-three Catholic organizations, including the archdioceses of New York and Washington, as well as the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic University of America, filed 12 lawsuits yesterday in courts across the country, also arguing the mandate violates the freedom of religion guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

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http://www.divinenewsnetwork.com Min. Thomas Allen

Its sad how the government can force their sinful lifestyles on the general public but as soon as you put up the Ten Commandments they are all over you saying your in violation of the constitution. lol

Isa. 5:20-24, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." (KJV)
- daves
  
  No one is forcing a sinful lifestyle on anyone.
  
  I am glad about the lawsuits, I kind of suspect that these organizations will lose.
  - Dave
    
    daves your blind and miss guided!!. Wake up man!! If the government is to allow to control birth control what is next?
    - daves
      
      How are they controlling birth control? They are not making anyone take it, they are just making it accessible which is a win for everyone involved.
      - myth buster
        
        No, they're not. They're trying to force people who believe contraception is evil to provide it anyway. If you sell a gun to someone who tells you he intends to commit a murder with it, you are just as guilty as he is.
Buck

The Unitede States government is no longer anywhere near being of by and for the people , it is now government CONTROL of the people and the people are no longer citizens but are now subjects of a completely unconstitutional tyrannical fascist government with absolutely zero regard for any human or civil rights execept those they can control .
- Evermyrtle
  
  Yeah, it seems that everything is based on sex and anti-baby issues. This, I guess has to be expected int he age in which we live. "COME LORE JESUS."
Ruth Walker

The right to privacy is questioned only when it's women's privacy being questioned? http://atheism.about.com/library/decisions/indexe…

Religious liberty requires no exceptions from law. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in 1878 (Reynolds v United States) that "Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices" else it would "permit every citizen to become a law unto himself. Government could exist only in name under such circumstances."

Apparently some insurers agree that it is cost neutral: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/insu... There is no doubt, though, that societies thrive where women are educated about contraceptives and have ready access to them.
- far2right
  
  Really? Any woman can obtain cheap and even free contraceptives at any local health department.
  
  And yet women slaughter 1.5 million babies each year in the U.S.
  
  And liberals would have us think this is progressive.
  
  The American narcissistic, cowardly feminist is the most barbaric group of people the world has ever known.
  
  They are worse than bullies.
  
  They are murderers.
- myth buster
  
  Government cannot make laws that force people to do things their religion says are wrong.
Dennis

Can you say "Heil, mein Führer?" That is where we are going. Sooner or later, God will allow this country to be destroyed, unless we repent and return to Him.
- Tout
  
  DENNIS You are so right. No use to show persons like DIXON the Truth, as given by God. He has his own 'truth'(god) and will probably die in it. I can only hope and pray that DIXON learns the Truth before he dies.
lambsev11

Something has occured to me. Those who don't use contraceptives will ultimately raise the next generation. It is almost as painful to pay for contraceptive as it is for abortions, Enduring gay marriage is painful too. But at the least these people will not be multiplying. We should oppose these practices, but is it worth so much effort in the courts? Christians ought to be marrying and raising the next generation, the more babies the better.
- keyboardshark
  
  Interesting thought. The ideologies of those who favor abortion, gay marriage, and couples having no children are leading them on a path to slow extinction, whether they realize it or not. Unfortunately, in the case of abortion, innocent lives are being extinguished on a large scale, so we cannot in good conscience simply look the other way and let it continue.
  - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
    
    You are making huge errors in your reasoning, Key.
    
    People who allow others the option of abortion, same sex marriage or having no children are not necessarily childless.
    
    I would allow others to get an abortion, but would not want my wife to get one. I have no issue with same sex marriage, yet I am married to a woman. I also respect a couples decision not to have children, yet I have two children of my own. You are confusing the idea of allowing others to make their own decisions with that being the same decision the person in question is making.
    - keyboardshark
      
      So essentially you are saying that you are fine with other people murdering babies in the womb, as long as it doesn't involve your wife, and you are fine with other people committing homosexual sin and living a destructive lifestyle, which will end in eternal death, as long as it doesn't involve you.
      
      Now, using contraception may be a different matter, as long as the contraception method is not abortive, but my point is, that those who practice abortion, gay marriage, or having no children will not be perpetuating their ideology to any offspring (unless they adopt).
      
      All three are definitely sinful if the birth control method being used is abortive. And all three ideologies, by virtue of their childless mindset, are (probably unwittingly) ensuring that they will become scarcer UNLESS they recruit others to the same ideologies. And finally, practitioners of all 3 are under God's judgement, the most terrible consequence of all.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Abortion is not murder. Murder is a legal term and abortions do not fall under that. Homosexuals do not concern me in the least. Contraceptives also do not concern me. And the judgement of mythical deities bothers me least of all.
      - keyboardshark
        
        Jeff says: "Abortion is not murder. Murder is a legal term and abortions do not fall under that."
        
        The first question is, Is a baby in the womb a human?
        
        "Over the last two decades science has built up an overwhelming body of information that leads us to just one conclusion: The unborn child must be a human life. The child quickly develops all the organs and systems that a newborn has. It moves like a newborn. It has senses. It can learn. If it is not a human, what is it?
        
        Perhaps it was information like this that led some doctors to consider the unborn child to be their patient. As noted in Williams Obstetrics (20th edition, p 151, 1997), "The status of the unborn child has been elevated to that of a patient, who, in large measure, can be given the same meticulous care that obstetricians provide pregnant women".
        
        This view is consistent with that expressed by William J. Larsen, Ph.D. in Essentials of Human Embryology,(p 317, 1998), "The extreme speed with which both our under- standing of human biology and our clinical practices are advancing affects a new category of patient: the unborn fetus." In further support of this view, Jan G. Nijhuis, M.D., Ph.D, editor of Fetal Behaviour: Developmental and Perinatal Aspects, (p xix, 1992), considers human life to include the time from conception to birth." http://www.sfuhl.org/g_what_has_science_shown.htm
        
        "The sperm has 23 chromosomes and so does the egg. But the fertilized egg has 46, half from each parent, and is genetically unique. These 46 chromosomes, which are fixed at conception, establish the child's sex and are a blueprint for how it will develop, both during pregnancy and after birth.
        
        Although the child begins developing immediately after conception, the most visible advances occur during the third to eighth weeks. In fact, key organs are already developing in the third week – a time when many women are just beginning to wonder if they are pregnant.
        
        Blood vessels start to form very early, about 13-18 days after fertilization. Then, on about the 20th day – nearly the end of the third week – the foundation of the brain, the spinal cord, and the entire nervous system is established.
        
        The eyes begin to develop early in the fourth week after conception. During this extremely critical week the esophagus, gallbladder, liver, lungs, pancreas, pharynx, stomach, and trachea also begin to form. And, toward the end of the week, the nose, tongue, and spleen also start to develop.
        
        The heart begins to beat on about the 22nd day after conception, circulating blood throughout the child. The arms begin to form on about day 26, followed by the beginnings of the legs on day 28, the same day that the mouth opens for the first time. Also on the 28th day, building blocks are present for 40 pairs of muscles that will run from the base of the skull to the bottom of the spinal column.
        
        The kidneys begin to develop early in the fifth week after conception. The jaws and ears are also forming during this week and the face starts to look human." http://www.sfuhl.org/b_unborn_child_develops.htm
        
        Obviously, the answer is, Yes, a baby in its mother's womb is human. Then the second question is, Is killing that baby murder? Well, is the killing in self defense? No. Is it justified by any other actions of the baby? No again. So it very definitely is murder, regardless of what courts decided, long before we had the modern technology we now have that allows us to see the developing stages of the baby.
        
        "Amazing UltraSounds & Photos
        
        As you will see through this and the following ultrasounds, the fetus is not a passive, dependent, nerveless, fragile vegetable, as some hold. The fetus is a young human being, whose heart starts beating as early as two weeks, and who is dynamic, responsive to its environment and the mother.
        
        This video is breathtakingly beautiful." http://www.ct4women.com/pc_development.html
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Let us cut to the chase. An abortion does kill a human being. So, does war, police actions, the death penalty and walking across the street at the wrong time. People die every day in this world due to the actions of others. People kill other people all the time. Atheists do it and Christians do it. Does that mean I am pleased by this? Of course not. But that does not change the reality that it occurs. You want to argue that it is wrong because it is against gods will. But your god is perfectly fine with killing children.
        
        Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers; Lest they rise and posses the earth, and fill the breadth of the world with tyrants. (Isaiah 14:21 NAB)
        
        The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird, for your children will die at birth or perish in the womb or never even be conceived. Even if your children do survive to grow up, I will take them from you. It will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave you alone. I have watched Israel become as beautiful and pleasant as Tyre. But now Israel will bring out her children to be slaughtered." O LORD, what should I request for your people? I will ask for wombs that don't give birth and breasts that give no milk. The LORD says, "All their wickedness began at Gilgal; there I began to hate them. I will drive them from my land because of their evil actions. I will love them no more because all their leaders are rebels. The people of Israel are stricken. Their roots are dried up; they will bear no more fruit. And if they give birth, I will slaughter their beloved children." (Hosea 9:11-16 NLT)
        
        "Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple." So they began by killing the seventy leaders. "Defile the Temple!" the LORD commanded. "Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!" So they went throughout the city and did as they were told." (Ezekiel 9:5-7 NLT)
        
        And at midnight the LORD killed all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn son of the captive in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died. (Exodus 12:29-30 NLT)
        
        If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey, I will inflict you with seven more disasters for your sins. I will release wild animals that will kill your children and destroy your cattle, so your numbers will dwindle and your roads will be deserted. (Leviticus 26:21-22 NLT)
        
        Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword. Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. (Isaiah 13:15-18 NLT)
      - keyboardshark
        
        Jeff says: "But your god is perfectly fine with killing children. "
        
        I haven't time to analyze all these verses, but I'll simply say this: Comparing times of war or God's judgement on the wicked with abortion is apples to oranges. Abortion is a very deliberate act of someone killing their own child for 'convenience' sake before it is even born. whereas war, while it has terrible consequences, is sometimes necessary to eliminate enemies or carry out judgement and children as well as adults do get killed.
        
        Regarding the death of the firstborn in Egypt, there was no stipulation that they had to be children, only that they were firstborn, regardless of age.
        
        In the other passages, God was pronouncing judgement upon Israel, and the judgement was so severe that even children were killed. None of these situations is comparable to abortion, which is premeditated murder directed against babies who are not involved in any war or judgement, nor have done anything to merit a death penalty.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Semantics. The biblical god is willing to kill children.
      - keyboardshark
        
        Jeff says: "Semantics. The biblical god is willing to kill children."
        
        No, it is not semantics. The two situations are different.
        
        Since you have admitted that an abortion does kill a human being, let me ask you a question. When is it OK to kill a baby in it's mother's womb? If there is a situation when you think it is OK, then why? What justifies it?
      - keyboardshark
        
        I see you have not answered my question yet. You obviously see the moral conundrum it raises when the issue is framed in this fashion. But if we boil the issue of abortion down to its essence, this is exactly the type of question that should be asked of those who support abortion. I should also give credit to the movie that gave me the idea ask the question the way I did: http://180movie.com/
      - Dave
        
        Jeff you say God kills inoscents, but how about you look into the mirror of the real reason on who was,is and will kill inoscents, Because you being human and a child from our human past.
        It like your children do wrong to you punished them or Just let them do what they want. I suspect you punish, With God our sinns are so bad and worst than you can comprehend the God would either wipe out and start over or just go after the ones at that time,
        
        But IN all reality man is the one doing all the KILLING,NOT GOD!! Maybe if you trun away from your sinfull way maybe death would NOT be awaiting you,
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Death awaits everyone of us.
      - keyboardshark
        
        Jeff says: "Homosexuals do not concern me in the least."
        
        They should. Their lifestyle results in an early death age, and they are prone to numerous diseases and other debilitating conditions as a result of their sinful lifestyle
        
        "Homosexual Behavior Is Unhealthy
        
        In Chapter 9, "Answering Culture," Haley lists the various emotional and physical dangers of homosexual conduct. These include higher rates of cigarette, drug, and alcohol abuse; higher rates domestic violence and mental illness; and far greater rates of sexual promiscuity and infidelity among gay couples.
        
        He quotes Dr. A. Dean Byrd who notes: "What is particularly disturbing is the lack of attention paid by the media to the research evidence reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry which concluded that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people were at higher risk for mental illness, specifically, suicidality, major depression, and anxiety disorder." http://narth.com/docs/questions.html
        
        "Among 180 patients consecutively seen at a venereal-disease clinic, 29 MSM (21.5% of homosexual clients and 6.2% of bisexual clients) but no women or heterosexual men had parasitic intestinal infections. (19) Interestingly, 17% of the heterosexuals in this sample had practiced rimming, yet were free of intestinal parasites. (19)
        
        Comparatively, 37% of the bisexuals and 75% of the homosexuals had practiced rimming. (19) Therefore, the elevated incidence of intestinal parasites among homosexuals is not solely due to rimming, but is also a result of the fact that MSM function as a reservoir of intestinal parasites. (19, 22)
        
        In a controlled study, 67.5% of 200 homosexual men and 16% of 100 heterosexual men had parasitic intestinal infections. (22) 27% of homosexual men and 1% of heterosexual men had E. histolytica, and 13% of homosexual men and 3% of heterosexual men had Giardia lamblia. (22) “The presence of symptoms could not be correlated with infection except when the infection was caused by more than one organism, including G. lamblia.” (22)
        
        In an analysis of three fecal samples from 153 homosexual men and 119 patients with abdominal symptoms, 59.5% of the homosexuals had their intestines infected by a total of 198 protozoan species, whereas 31.9% of the patients had their intestines infected by a total of 51 protozoan species. (23)
        
        In one study, 95 of 119 consecutively seen homosexual men with anorectal/intestinal symptoms and 29 (39%) of 75 randomly selected male homosexuals without gastrointestinal or anorectal symptoms were infected by pathogenic intestinal parasites. (17)
        
        In another study of 101 male homosexuals without gastrointestinal symptoms, 27% had Entamoeba histolytica, 61% had nonpathogenic protozoa with or without E. histolytica, 36% had a nonpathogen alone, and 3% had Giardia lamblia. (18)
        
        In an examination of 243 homosexual men without any gastrointestinal symptoms, about 12% were infected with at least one pathogenic intestinal parasite. (24)" http://doesgodexist.multiply.com/journal/item/76
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        You look at this information and see reasons to despise gays. I see it as reasons to help find cures for the problems they encounter.
      - keyboardshark
        
        I "despise" gays? Where did you get that? I simply told the truth about the dangers they face from their choice to engage in risky, destructive behavior. Telling them to go at it and have fun, while knowing the dangers and possible death they will face, is more despicable than telling them the truth in my estimation.
        
        I would love nothing more than to see a homosexual repent from his ways, receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ as one of the elect, and come to know true freedom and eternal life rather than enduring a short physical life marked by disease, destruction, and death, and then followed by the ultimate destruction, eternal death.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        You said I should be bothered by gays. You then listed reasons why you are bothered by gays. You do not believe they deserve the same rights as heterosexuals to marry someone they love. Perhaps despise is too strong a word, but you have no empathy for them.
      - keyboardshark
        
        Jeff says: "You said I should be bothered by gays. You then listed reasons why you are bothered by gays."
        
        You are switching verbs. Originally you said, "Homosexuals do not concern me in the least." You used the word "concern", not "bother". My reply was, "They should." "Concern" and "bother" carry different meanings. Bother implies that something irritates you. Concern implies an interest in the subject's welfare.
        
        That is what I meant–that you should be concerned with the welfare of homosexuals. You are reading something in that I did not intend. I then went on to list the dangers that homosexuals face as a result of their destructive lifestyle.
        
        I am concerned for their welfare, but I would not say that their behavior "bothers" me in any way. It definitely is sinful, but my own sin is what should bother me, not someone else's sin. I have a full-time job just keeping my own sin in check without going around and pointing out the sins of other individuals who do not happen to have the same sin problems as I do. I will declare what the Bible says about particular sins, such as homosexuality, but it is not my business to confront individuals in an attempt to shame them.
        
        I guess about the only thing that does bother me in relation to homosexual sin is when militant homosexuals attempt to squelch my free speech when I begin to tell the truth about their lifestyle. They claim to want 'tolerance', but apparently it only applies to their viewpoint, not mine.
      - Tout
        
        DIXON No matter what I or KEYBOARDSHARK believe. The Truth only counts. We may not despise gays, rather pray for them.
      - Tout
        
        Eternal death, what is bad about that ? Eternal 'death' in hell ?
      - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
        
        What is bad about eternal death? Nothing, unless you want to live and have conscious existence. I do not believe in a place of eternal torment. I believe if you die unsaved, you cease to exist. In either case, unless you have become born again, you will not see the kingdom of God, and you will never have eternal life.
      - Tout
        
        A cure for gays. To live a while longer before going to hell, or to change their way of life.?
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        keyboardshark 92p ·that those who practice abortion, gay marriage, or having no children will not be perpetuating their ideology to any offspring (unless they adopt).
        
        That is not necessarily accurate. Lesbians can carry a baby to term and often use sperm donors.
        
        Male homosexuals can also use a female surrogate and use their own sperm. Gays can and do reproduce.
      - keyboardshark
        
        Jeff says:"Lesbians can carry a baby to term and often use sperm donors." "Male homosexuals can also use a female surrogate and use their own sperm."
        
        Yes, that is true, but what I meant was that two homosexuals can never procreate like a heterosexual couple.
      - Tout
        
        DIXON clearly shows he does not accept certain rules that were made by God. Does he believe in God ?
    - Tout
      
      DIXON allows others to have abortion, same sex marriage, and some other human actions, that are forbidden by God. He just tells us that he allows other people to do, what he himself wouldn't do. It is not a question of what Dixon allows; it is a question of what God allows. Is Dixon saying: I would not steal, but I allow others to steal.
- Tout
  
  Christians can not be forced to support acts that are against God's Law..
RationalConservative

It has always confused me greatly that 'progressives' seem to think it is wrong to sentence a criminal to death, but it is ok to sentence a preborn child to death for the 'crime' of inconvenience.
RationalConservative

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in 1878 (Reynolds v United States) that "Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices"

I would argue that "not covering contraception/abortion' is not an action, but an inaction. It is like the healthcare law: can you force someone to buy something just because they exist? In this case, can you force them to supply something? These organizations are not actiong – they are not forcing people not to use contraception or get abortions, they are merely trying to prevent being force to act on them but providing them.

Not supplying contraception because it is against your belief is the opposite of 'religious actions' the government might to prevent, like virgin sacrifice.
msjallen

The government should stay out of the "bedrooms" of our country. It is between God and each person what they do for He is the judge. It is the responsibility of each person to know what God says in His Word and follow it. As designed by the founders the federal government’s only legitimate role would be to provide for defense of our common borders and preservation of rights as defined by the Bill of Rights.
http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon

Of course god is a created being. Mankind has been dreaming up versions for god for thousands of years, including the biblical god.
- Tout
  
  to JEFF DIXON God is not a created being. God lived always,will always live.The first persons Adam & Eve did not dream anything up; they personally knew God. Disobeyed Him, were punished. Over the years, many people lost proper knowledge about their Creator. Yet many realized, there had to be a Supreme Force. Started to believe in different sources of divine power(trees, animals, etc.). The Jewish people realized and found God. The rejection of true knowledge brought drowning (flood) to all people, except to a small group. Again people multiplied. God send his Son to correct, to teach the Truth, As proof, Jesus did many miracles. Even rose from death,showed Himself to may persons. Then went up in Heaven.Regardless of the many cruel killings over 20 centuries,and many people constructing their own 'religion', many highly educated persons end up recognizing and joining Catholicism. Many 'noble' English persons joined the Church, some losing their inheritance. There may always be people who follow their own desires instead of God's guidance.We pray for them.We help others to know God.That's why I openly testify in restaurants, streets;in public. Non-believers will learn the truth, probably when it is too late.