WASHINGTON (AP) — Opponents of the Obama administration's birth control mandate see a ray of hope in the Supreme Court decision upholding the health care reform law.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — joined by Justices Sotomayor, Breyer and Kagan — wrote: "A mandate to purchase a particular product would be unconstitutional if, for example, the edict impermissibly abridged the freedom of speech, interfered with the free exercise of religion, or infringed on a liberty interest protected by the Due Process Clause."
Attorney Mark Rienzi (ree-EHN'-zee) says that statement by the four most liberal justices suggests the entire court may reject the requirement that employers provide insurance for services that violate their religious beliefs.
Rienzi is senior counsel for the Becket Fund, which is challenging the mandate on behalf of Colorado Christian University, Ave Maria University, Belmont Abbey College and the Eternal Word Television Network.
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309-w-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Mark Rienzi, senior counsel for the Becket Fund)--Opponents of the Obama administration's birth control mandate see a ray of hope in the Supreme Court decision upholding the health care reform law. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (28 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *309 (06/28/12)>> 00:31
310-a-10-(Mark Rienzi (ree-EHN'-zee), senior counsel for the Becket Fund, in AP interview)-"exercise of religion"-Becket Fund attorney Mark Rienzi says opponents of the birth control mandate are encouraged by part of the Supreme Court's health care ruling. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (28 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *310 (06/28/12)>> 00:10 "exercise of religion"
311-a-14-(Mark Rienzi (ree-EHN'-zee), senior counsel for the Becket Fund, in AP interview)-"on religious liberty"-Becket Fund attorney Mark Rienzi says the ruling upholding the health care law includes a statement that may doom the birth control mandate. (28 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *311 (06/28/12)>> 00:14 "on religious liberty"
312-a-12-(Mark Rienzi (ree-EHN'-zee), senior counsel for the Becket Fund, in AP interview)-"freedom of religion"-Becket Fund attorney Mark Rienzi says the court's four most liberal justices wrote that mandating the purchase of a product could be unconstitutional if religious rights are violated. (28 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *312 (06/28/12)>> 00:12 "freedom of religion"
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