A court has ruled in favour of a Catholic-owned company in Colorado in its case against the state's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over a federal insurance coverage mandate for employees.
The mandate would have compelled Hercules Industries to provide insurance that includes coverage for sterilisation and contraception. The HHS slaps heavy fines on companies that fail to comply with the directive but for the four owners of Hercules Industries, following the HHS' mandate would have meant violating their religious beliefs.
Hercules Industries is owned by Catholics William Newland, Paul Newland, James Newland, and Christine Ketterhagen.
According to CNS, US District Judge John Kane issued a permanent injunction on Monday against the HHS in favour of the plaintiffs under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.
The Act prevents government agencies from placing "substantial burden" on business owners' freedom to exercise their religion. Governments can only do so if it is the only "least restrictive" manner of pursuing a "compelling government interest".
"This final victory, a permanent injunction protecting us from the abortion-pill, contraception and sterilisation mandate, has taught our family that we have been right to put God first, and be proactive to protect our right to live and work according to our faith," Hercules Industries co-owner Newland told CNS.
"Spiritual treasures come before business tools," he concluded.
According to the CNS, Hercules Industries' proprietors first obtained a legal injunction against the HHS mandate in July 2012. They were assisted by the Alliance Defending Freedom throughout the proceedings.
The Alliance's legal team welcomed the District Judge's ruling.
"Americans should be free to live and work according to their faith without fear of punishment by the government," the Alliance's senior legal counsel, Matt Bowman, said.
"In this country, citizens have always had the freedom to believe, the freedom to express those beliefs, and the freedom to operate their businesses in accord with those beliefs."
