FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
August 4, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 1
AG ASKS APPEALS COURT TO OVERTURN RULING THAT
RESTRICTED RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN EWTN CASE
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange today filed a friend of the
th
court brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11 Circuit to overturn the U.S.
District Court’s decision that restricted religious liberty in the case of Eternal Word
Television Network v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alabama was
the lead state in this brief, which was joined by the States of Florida and Georgia.
“I am proud to continue standing with EWTN to oppose this unconscionable
mandate against its fundamental religious beliefs and liberties,” said Attorney General
Strange. “I am committed to protect freedom of religion, which is our ‘first freedom’
under the U.S. Constitution. This is a basic right that the people of Alabama have
enshrined in our own constitution as well. No one can be forced to offer a product that
is against one’s religious beliefs or conscience.”
Attorney General Strange asks the Court to protect the religious liberty of
Alabama citizens and religious non-profit ministries by reversing the district court’s
ruling requiring EWTN and as a not-for-profit religious organization to comply with
the Obamacare HHS mandate to provide contraception and abortion-inducing drug
coverage in its employees’ health insurance plans.
Alabama, joined by Florida and Georgia, are asking the appeals court to “follow
the Supreme Court’s lead and binding precedent” as set forth in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby
“to conclude that the contraception mandate, as enforced through the federal
government’s regulations, imposes a substantial burden on EWTN.” The brief asserts
that “all three states have strong constitutional and statutory protections for religious
freedom,” and “have a strong interest in maintaining the very broad protections for
religious liberty in the federal RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act).”
The brief argues that “religious freedom is a fundamental part of our society”
and “states have an interest in creating a climate where diverse businesses and
nonprofits, helmed by people of various faiths, thrive and create jobs.” The U.S.
Supreme Court recently explained in the Hobby Lobby case that “citizens do not forfeit
this freedom by participating in business.” The brief further argues that the district
court incorrectly applied (failed to consider) whether the government had a compelling
interest and whether it used the least restrictive means to further that interest.
Therefore, the States argue, the lower court ruling should be reversed.
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
