Nuns’ lawyer tells Fox News that God doesn’t allow signing Obamacare waivers

[DonViejo]

By David Edwards
Sunday, January 5, 2014 12:00 EST

The lawyer representing a Catholic group who is refusing sign a waiver exempting them from providing birth control coverage for their employees as required by the federal government said on Sunday that God had instructed them not to sign the form — and so they had to take the case to the Supreme Court.

During a debate on Fox News, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue pointed out that the Affordable Care Act had struck a balance of allowing non-profit religious organizations to opt-out from providing birth control coverage while attempting to provide care for the vast majority of women in the country.

“This law was intended to uphold religious liberty and, yet, make sure that no one else was making my health care decisions based on their beliefs,” Hogue explained, turning to Little Sisters of the poor attorney Mark Rienzi. “So in this case, it’s beyond me actually why Mr. Rienzi doen’t just instruct his client to sign the form because no one’s going to get contraception and they can get back to doing the great work that they do to care for the elderly.”

Rienzi, however, argued that the Little Sisters of the Poor were not permitted to sign the form for “religious” reasons.

“This form self-certifies, in fact, that the Sisters actually don’t condone contraception,” Hogue insisted.

“Signing this form is not akin to you signing a contract for your house,” Rienzi replied. “It’s something that the Little Sisters of the Poor, who are obviously deeply religious people say their god tells them not do.”

“And so for the government to say, ‘You must sign that form or we will crush the nursing homes that you use to care for the elderly and poor’ makes no sense at all.”

Watch this video from Fox News’ Fox News Sunday, broadcast Jan. 5, 2014

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/05/nuns-lawyer-tells-fox-news-that-god-doesnt-allow-signing-obamacare-waivers/

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Full article posted with the permission of Raw Story

[rickford66]

1. Time to subpoena God for a deposition.

If the shoe was on the other foot, this is what the wingnuts would demand.

[ucrdem]

2. The need a better lawyer. nt

[question everything]

3. To borrow from "The Newsroom"

How did god sound? In what language did god talk? Male or female voice? High or low? Angry or calm?

[davidpdx]

11. That was a good one

I seriously go through withdrawal symptoms 9 months a year without that program.

[The empressof all]

4. Who signs their licensing contracts for their nursing homes?

Last edited Sun Jan 5, 2014, 06:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Sorry but this is just beyond crazy....

Unless they accept no insurance or governmental money for their work with the elderly I don't see how they operate without contractual agreements. If they have non religious employees working for them they must already have some degree of contracting in place and sign employer/employee documentation. Who signed their tax exempt status forms?

Grandstanding of the highest order...


People who hear gods voice are more often than not suffering from a brain disease....Perhaps they need medical help

Seriously...this is the kind of crap that ruins religion and spirituality....Pisses me off...

[Igel]

7. It's not paperwork signing that's the problem.

By self-certifying that they don't condone abortion and thereby opt out, they authorize and compel another to do what they object to.

There are ways around this that would make everybody completely happy. But since recognizing the problem would reduce the opportunity for mockery and smugness--or outrage--even going for understanding is a hard sell.

Agreement isn't necessary for the discussion. Just empathy.

[Cosmocat]

12. More of the same

Providing the right wing outrage machine with any possible means to get its "war" on trumps actually getting things moving forward in this country.

[JoePhilly]

5. Ask the sisters how God feels about LYING.

[freshwest]

6. God's against paperwork? My landlord will accept my refusing to write a check to pay rent?

FREEDOM!!!!111!!!!

[quadrature]

8. what does Sebelius want?

OK, so KS is kicking these people around.
she is winning, why be a sore winner?

[awoke_in_2003]

9. A significant portion of this country...

could benefit from a thorough mental exam.

[sakabatou]

10. God? Seriously?

[Myrina]

13. I thought God gave people free will?

"Allow" or "Disallow" probably isn't in God's vocabulary.

[pnwmom]

14. That's funny, because a much larger group of nuns strongly endorsed

the ACA, and some of them even arranged to take a bus tour around the country to promote it.