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Attorney General Mike DeWine…
AG Joins
Lawsuit Against Federal Mandate Violating Religious Liberty
(COLUMBUS, OH)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, attorneys general
from six other states, religious organizations, and individual citizens
today filed a lawsuit challenging the new federal government mandate
that requires religious organizations to provide insurance products and
services that violate their religious beliefs.
“I continue to have grave concerns that despite President Obama’s
so-called accommodation, the United States government is intent on
implementing rules that violate religious liberty,” said Attorney
General DeWine. “This lawsuit seeks to protect our fellow citizens,
their churches, and religious charities so that they are not penalized
by this illegal regulation.”
The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Departments of Health and Human
Services, Treasury, and Labor. The lawsuit alleges that the mandate,
which requires employers to provide insurance covering abortifacients
and contraceptives even if they object on religious grounds, violates
the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act signed by President Bill
Clinton in 1993. The lawsuit also alleges that the final rules still
require religious employers that self-insure or religiously-affiliated
insurance companies to provide the coverage despite religious
objections.
The lawsuit also alleges that the resulting choice between providing
the mandated coverage or not providing insurance and charitable
services would likely result in more persons applying for state
assistance through Medicaid.
“This new Obamacare mandate will force religious employers to choose
between harsh penalties and violating their conscience,” Attorney
General DeWine said. “The unfortunate reality is that many religious
organizations will cease to offer health insurance and charities will
stop offering services to the less fortunate because of this mandate.
This is another example of why Obamacare is bad policy, and it is
another reason why I have joined attorneys general across this county
to protect American families from its illegal overreach.”
In addition to joining today’s lawsuit, Attorney General DeWine stated
that he will look for appropriate opportunities to express the State’s
legal concerns in other cases through friend of the court filings.
A copy of the lawsuit is available here
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