Who's Suing the Obama Administration?

Unless you've spent the last few months on one of Jupiter's moons, you've at least heard of the now notorious Obama-care mandate issued by the current administration's Department of Health and Human Services. This mandate requires all religious-based institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and other charitable organizations, to provide employee health insurance that includes coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortifacients, even though this coverage would force such institutions to violate their religious beliefs.

It's hard to imagine a more direct attack on the religious freedom guaranteed by our Constitution's First Amendment. The mainstream media, however, following the lead of President Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, have attempted to spin the coverage into a controversy over contraception. It's not about religious freedom, we're told. No, it's just another example of the "war on women" being waged by all those reactionary Catholics and Evangelicals.

Our religious freedom will be decided by these 9 justices

The administration is trying mightily to keep the truth of this mandate from the American people, at least until after the election. They believe they have public opinion on their side when it comes to contraception, but religious freedom? That might be far more problematic. The churches, however, especially the Catholic Church, just won't go away and are taking the only action available to them: they're suing the administration in federal court. Ultimately -- and we can only hope that this will occur sooner rather than later -- the issue will be resolved by the nine justices of the U. S. Supreme Court.

But who exactly are the plaintiffs in these lawsuits? Most are Catholic entities and include dioceses, educational institutions, charitable and healthcare organizations, as well as businesses; and the list continues to lengthen almost daily. Interestingly, there are a growing number of Evangelical Protestant institutions and businesses among the plaintiffs. You will note that eight states attorneys general have also joined the suit. 

The following is a current list of plaintiffs. You can find information on the state of each of the lawsuits here.

Aquinas College (TN)
Archbishop Carroll High School (DC)
ArchCare (NY)
Archdiocese of Atlanta (GA)
Archdiocese of New York (NY)
Archdiocese of St. Louis (MO)
Archdiocese of Washington (DC)
Autocam Corporation (MI)
Autocam Medical, LLC (MI)
Ave Maria University (FL)
Belmont Abbey College (NC)
Biola University (IN)
Catholic Cemeteries Association of Diocese of Pittsburgh (PA)
Catholic Charities of Atlanta (GA)
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago (IL)
Catholic Charities of D.C. (DC)
Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne-South Bend (IN)
Catholic Charities of Jackson (MS)
Catholic Charities of Joliet (IL)
Catholic Charities of Diocese of Pittsburgh (PA)
Catholic Charities of Rockville Centre (NY)
Catholic Charities of Springfield (IL)
Catholic Charities of St. Louis (MO)
Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Inc, (TN)
Catholic Health Services of Long Island (NY)
Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America (NE)
Catholic Social & Community Services Inc. (MS)
Catholic Social Service (NE)
Catholic University of America (DC)
Christ the King Catholic School (GA)
College of the Ozarks (MO)
Colorado Christian University (CO)
Consortium of Catholic Academies (DC)
De l’Epee Deaf Center Inc. (MS)
Diocese of Biloxi (MS)
Diocese of Dallas (TX)
Diocese of Erie (PA)
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (IN)
Diocese of Fort Worth (TX)
Diocese of Jackson (MS)
Diocese of Joliet (IL)
Diocese of Nashville (TN)
Diocese of Peoria (IL)
Diocese of Pittsburgh (PA)
Diocese of Rockville Centre (NY)
Diocese of Savannah (GA)
Diocese of Springfield (IL)
East Texas Baptist University (TX)
Eternal Word Television Network (AL)
Father Ryan High School (TN)
Franciscan Alliance (IN)
Franciscan University of Steubenville (OH)
Geneva College (PA)
Grace College and Seminary (IN)
Hercules Industries, Inc. (CO)
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (OK)
Houston Baptist University (TX)
Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. (IL)
Legatus - Catholic Business Association (MI)
Louisiana Baptist College (LA)
Mary, Queen of Angels, Inc. (TN)
Michigan Catholic Conference - supports 7 dioceses (MI)
O’Brien Industrial Holdings, LLC (MO)
Our Sunday Visitor (IN)
Pius X Catholic High School (NE)
Pope John Paul II High School (TN)
Priests for Life (NY)
Prince of Peace Center (PA)
Resurrection Catholic School (MS)
Sacred Heart Catholic School (MS)Seneca Hardwood Lumber Company (PA)
St. Anne Home (IN)
St. Dominic Health Services (MS)
St. Joseph's Catholic School (MS)
St. Martin Center (PA)
St. Mary Villa, Inc. (TN)
State of Alabama (AL)
State of Florida (FL)
State of Michigan (MI)
State of Nebraska (NE)

State of Ohio (OH)
State of Oklahoma (OK)
State of South Carolina (SC)
State of Texas (TX)
Triune Health Group (IL)
Tyndale House Publishers (IL)
University of Notre Dame (IN)
University of St. Francis (IN)
Vicksburg Catholic School (MS)
Villa Maria Manor, Inc. (TN)
Weingartz Supply Company (MI)
Wheaton College (IL)

Quite a list! One sad observation: not one of the  28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States are listed among the plaintiffs.

Vote responsibly on November 6.

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