Washington D.C., Mar 23, 2010 / 18:17 pm
Parallel to the actions of 13 states’ attorneys general, the Thomas More Law Center has filed a lawsuit challenging the health care reform bill. The suit argues that it is unconstitutional to force someone to purchase health care coverage and to force those who object to pay for abortions.
Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Law Center, claimed the health care bill was “a product of political corruption and the exercise of unconstitutional power.” A successful lawsuit would ensure “a limited form of government,” he said.
Plaintiffs in the suit are the Law Center and four individuals from southeastern Michigan. Defendants are President Obama, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, who are being sued in their official capacity.
According to the complaint, filed in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, because of their “deeply held religious beliefs” the plaintiffs object to “being forced by the federal government to contribute in any way to the funding of abortion.” Abortion funding is contrary to their First Amendment rights of conscience and free exercise of religion, the complaint continues.