WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Little Sisters of the Poor were in federal court October 19 defending themselves from a new lawsuit by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is attempting to strip the nuns of their religious exemption to the HHS mandate.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments in State of California v. Little Sisters of the Poor and will decide if the order of Catholic nuns can continue caring for the elderly poor without violating their Catholic faith.
Last October, as directed by the Supreme Court in Zubik v. Burwell, HHS issued a new regulation giving religious nonprofits, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, legal protection from having to provide services such as the week-after pill in their healthcare plan in violation of their faith.
Yet shortly after the regulation was passed, Becerra sued to take away the Little Sisters’ religious exemption, forcing the nuns back to court. Becket defended the Little Sisters in court October 19, arguing that the religious exemption is required by civil rights law.
“We pray that the court will protect our ability to continue serving the elderly poor as we have for over 175 years without being forced to violate our faith,” said Sr. Theresa Gertrude of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Becket President Mark Rienzi argued on behalf of the Little Sisters. A ruling is expected sometime in 2019.
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