The Supreme Court of the U.S. today refused to hear an appeal from the Sacramento diocese's Catholic Charities organization, which is under a state mandate to include coverage for immoral contraceptives in its employee health insurance program.
According to CNN, California's Supreme Court had already declared that the law was not an infringement of freedom of religion because "[t]he charity could avoid any conflict with its religious values by not offering its employees any prescription drug coverage at all." Speaking for myself, I fail to see how that would serve the public interest, but then maybe the public interest will have to come second to the imperial will of the legislative majority.
It'll be interesting to see how the diocese proceeds from here: Catholic Charities could
- acquiesce under duress
- enter into some brinksmanship with the legislature by announcing a plan to dissolve
- reconstitute itself as a more closely controlled agency of the Church with a clearer religious mission
- drop drug coverage from its health insurance but offer employees some other health benefit (e.g., medical savings accounts combined with high-deductible insurance)
Since the pastors of the Church tend to finesse conflicts, postpone problems, and avoid confrontations where possible, I suppose they'll aim for the last option or something like it. I'd like to see a little more #2 and #3, though.
I'd like to see ALL #2.....then the state will be in the interesting position of having to explain to one of its biggest constituencies just why the CC is shutting down in California....
It is time for a new Supreme Court. One that will not foreswear its Constitutional oath. One that will limit itself to its Constitional role and not arrogate to itself legislative power.
My guess would be a modified version of #1 -- acquiesce quietly, and hope nobody notices.
No, Puzzled, it's time to bulldoze the Supreme Court building, defund all courts and ignore all court rulings. At least until such time as they learn their place.