A Lancaster County company suing the federal government over President Obama’s Healthcare Reform Law expects a big court decision this week.
Conestoga Wood Specialties should know by Thursday if it will be forced to offer its 900 employees contraception as it awaits the outcome of that federal lawsuit. The company is Mennonite-owned and says Obamacare is a violation of religious rights.
“Religious employers, people who are religious in their heart should still be able to engage in their religious faith in everything that they do not just in the four corners of a church,” stated Randall Wenger of Independence Law Center.
Under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, companies with more than 50 employees must offer them contraception. But the government’s definition of contraception includes what many consider to be abortion pills. So last month, Mennonite-owned Conestoga Wood Specialties filed a federal lawsuit.
The lawsuit says it would be religiously sinful and immoral for the company to offer its employees contraception. And it doesn’t feel the federal government should be able to force it to.
As the lawsuit works its way through the courts, the company could be granted an injunction so it doesn’t have to comply with the law until the suit in resolved. A decision is expected this week.
“If the government can force us to violate our convictions, whether religious or otherwise, government can tell us to do anything,” Wenger cautioned.
Attorney Randall Wenger, says his client, is not alone in filing such a suit. Throughout the country, 41 cases are pending involving 100 plaintiffs. As far as the injunction is concerned, there have been 12 rulings with it being granted in nine.
If Conestoga is not granted the injunction, then the company has a decision to make. It can either offer the contraception and violate its morals, or pay a fine to the federal government.
Conestoga Wood Specialties should know by Thursday if it will be forced to offer its 900 employees contraception as it awaits the outcome of that federal lawsuit. The company is Mennonite-owned and says Obamacare is a violation of religious rights.
“Religious employers, people who are religious in their heart should still be able to engage in their religious faith in everything that they do not just in the four corners of a church,” stated Randall Wenger of Independence Law Center.
Under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, companies with more than 50 employees must offer them contraception. But the government’s definition of contraception includes what many consider to be abortion pills. So last month, Mennonite-owned Conestoga Wood Specialties filed a federal lawsuit.
The lawsuit says it would be religiously sinful and immoral for the company to offer its employees contraception. And it doesn’t feel the federal government should be able to force it to.
As the lawsuit works its way through the courts, the company could be granted an injunction so it doesn’t have to comply with the law until the suit in resolved. A decision is expected this week.
“If the government can force us to violate our convictions, whether religious or otherwise, government can tell us to do anything,” Wenger cautioned.
Attorney Randall Wenger, says his client, is not alone in filing such a suit. Throughout the country, 41 cases are pending involving 100 plaintiffs. As far as the injunction is concerned, there have been 12 rulings with it being granted in nine.
If Conestoga is not granted the injunction, then the company has a decision to make. It can either offer the contraception and violate its morals, or pay a fine to the federal government.