Court rules against Catholic-owned company in HHS mandate case

July 15, 2013

A federal district court judge in Michigan has refused to halt enforcement of the HHS mandate against a for-profit corporation owned by Catholics. “The Court concludes that Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they are likely to succeed on their claims because it appears more likely to the Court that Mersino Managment, as a secular forprofit company, cannot “exercise” religion and cannot act as the alter ego of its owners in challenging the contraceptive mandate under RFRA [Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993],” ruled Judge Charles Borman, a Clinton appointee. “Moreover, even assuming that Rodney and Karen Mersino have standing to challenge the contraceptive coverage mandate, as individuals, the Mersinos have not demonstrated a clear likelihood of success because the regulations do not substantially burden them in the exercise of their individual religious beliefs,” he continued. Judge Borman’s ruling comes two weeks after a higher court in another jurisdiction halted enforcement of the mandate against Hobby Lobby, also a for-profit corporation.

 

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Further information:

• Preliminary Injunction Denied In For-Profit Company's Challenge To Contraceptive Coverage Mandate (Religion Clause)
• Full text of decision