Washington D.C., Nov 20, 2012 / 02:00 am
A federal court has granted an injunction protecting Protestant Christian Bible publisher Tyndale House Publishers from the Department of Health and Human Services mandate that requires it to provide insurance coverage for abortion-causing contraceptives.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said Nov. 16 that the mandate "affirmatively compels the plaintiffs to violate their religious beliefs in order to comply with the law and avoid the sanctions that would be imposed for their noncompliance."
The judge, an appointee of George W. Bush for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said the government has not proven that mandating Tyndale provide the coverage furthers the government's compelling interests in promoting public health.
"First Amendment rights are among the most precious rights guaranteed under the Constitution," his decision said.