Tennessee diocese, other Catholic institutions file suit against HHS mandate

September 18, 2012

The Diocese of Nashville and seven area Catholic institutions have filed suit against the Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to prevent the implementation of the HHS mandate.

“We believe that our Constitution and form of government [express] the right to religious freedom,” wrote Bishop David Choby. “Such a right is much deeper and of greater consequence than freedom to worship.”

“We believe that the application of some provisions of the Affordable Health Care Act attack[s] this right,” he continued. “In seeking to force the Church to act or make provision to act against her moral principles, the government is asserting its interest over those appropriate and proper to the Church; and it is not competent to make such decisions or render judgments relative to moral principles long held and taught by any church, Catholic or otherwise.” “Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to suggest in his judgment expressing the opinions of the majority of the justices of the Supreme Court, that while the Affordable Care Act is constitutional on the basis of the government’s power to tax, the people of the United States can act to express their dissatisfaction by voting their values,” Bishop Choby added.

“There was a constant theme that ran through both the Republican and Democratic party political conventions with which I agree: the future direction of the country is a matter of choice.”

 

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Further information:

• Nashville Diocese sues over health law's insurance mandate on contraceptives, morning-after pills (The Tennessean)
• Letter from Bishop Choby (Diocese of Nashville)