Today, the Supreme Court of the United States reached a decision in favor of Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties.   The Court ruled that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “preventive services” mandate violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as applied to these employers to the extent that it would have forced them to provide insurance coverage for drugs and devices that violate their religious convictions on respect for human life.  This decision of the Supreme Court indicates that Americans should have the right to follow their faith while operating family businesses, even when these businesses are tightly held corporations. This is a great victory for religious freedom.

Also, today, the tenth circuit court of appeals granted The Diocese of Cheyenne and affiliated Catholic organizations, an injunction pending appeal. The order reads as follows:

 “we hereby order as follows. If the plaintiffs-appellants inform the Secretary of Health and Human Services in writing that they are non-profit organizations that hold themselves out as religious and have religious objections to providing coverage for contraceptive services, the respondents are enjoined from enforcing against the plaintiffs-appellants the challenged provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related regulations pending further order of the court. To meet the condition for injunction pending appeal, plaintiffs-appellants need not use the form prescribed by the Government and need not send copies to third-party administrators.”

 Today’s rulings are certainly welcome news and a victory for religious freedom. We continue to pray for a successful conclusion to our pending litigation brought on behalf of Wyoming Catholic Charities, St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, Wyoming Catholic College, and St Anthony’s Tri-Parish School.

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