Ruling Threatens Religious Liberty For Catholic Nuns
Philadelphia, PA – In a decision against religious liberty, a federal district court in Philadelphia has issued a nationwide ruling against the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic order of nuns dedicated to caring for the elderly poor. The decision, siding with Pennsylvania and New Jersey, upholds the states’ challenge to a 2020 religious conscience rule, potentially forcing the nuns to provide abortion-inducing contraceptives in their healthcare plans or face millions in fines. The Little Sisters have vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
The ruling stems from a long-running legal battle over the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) contraceptive mandate, introduced in 2011 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The mandate requires employers to include contraceptives, including those that can cause abortions, in their health insurance plans. While exemptions were granted for administrative convenience and grandfathered plans covering millions, no such exemption was initially provided for religious organizations like the Little Sisters, who have served the elderly for nearly two centuries.
In 2016, the Little Sisters won a landmark victory at the Supreme Court, securing protection from the mandate. A 2017 federal rule further exempted religious groups, but Pennsylvania and New Jersey have persistently challenged this protection in court. The Supreme Court again upheld the exemption in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania in 2020, yet the states continued their legal pursuit, culminating in today’s ruling.
Mark Rienzi, president of Becket and lead attorney for the Little Sisters, condemned the decision, stating, “The district court’s nationwide invalidation of federal religious conscience rules is deeply troubling. Even more concerning is its failure to address clear constitutional issues after five years without a hearing. It’s unthinkable that the Little Sisters may need yet another Supreme Court battle to protect their right to serve the elderly poor without violating their faith.”
Mother Loraine Marie Maguire, speaking for the Little Sisters, reaffirmed their commitment: “Our mission is to care for the elderly poor until God calls them home. We will fight to continue this work without compromising our beliefs and pray that Pennsylvania and New Jersey end this unwarranted harassment.”
The case has drawn national attention as an example of states attempting to usurp the conscience of its and restrict religious liberty, a clear and flagrant violation of our conscience and a perfect example of the need for the state to stay out of the church business. The Little Sisters’ appeal, expected in the coming weeks, will likely escalate the issue back to higher courts, continuing a 14-year saga that has already reached the Supreme Court twice.
