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Court to Priests for Life: “You have to wait”

Monday, April 15th, 2013





Priests for Life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 15, 2013

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

Judge dismisses case for now, but protects Priests for Life from HHS Mandate; Priests for Life to re-file.

On Friday, April 12, in Federal Court for the Eastern District of New York, Judge Frederic Block issued an order granting the government’s motion to dismiss the case, Priests for Life vs. Sebelius, on grounds of “lack of ripeness.”

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued this statement:

“The Court’s decision Friday does not mean that we are being forced to obey the mandate now. In fact, this same court protected us from having that happen, by having the government stipulate back in December, in writing, that it would not enforce the mandate against Priests for Life in 2013.

“Moreover, the dismissal does not mean we’ve ‘lost the case;’ it means the court is not ready to decide on the case. The court is not saying we are wrong in our arguments with the Obama Administration and the HHS. Rather, it is issuing a procedural, technical ruling saying that we have to wait before the court decides on the merits of those arguments. The reason for the wait is the Administration’s promise of further changes to the mandate, changes expected by August of this year. The Court is saying, ‘Wait and see if, once the changes to the mandate come, you still want to challenge it.’

“In Judge Block’s order on Friday, he states, ‘The proposed regulations are not fit for review since they are still being formed…If Priests for Life is not content with the ultimate regulations, it may renew its legal challenge at that point.’ This is what has happened in over 20 other cases by similar organizations.

“What do we think of this?

“The Administration has already announced proposed changes, all of which are unacceptable and do not address our legal or moral concerns. The Administration is delaying the inevitable resolution of the legal challenge, and then arguing that the delay itself is grounds for dismissing the challenge. These are cowardly games which show that the Administration just wants these lawsuits to go away. The Administration should not do this and the court should not allow it.

“Moreover, the fact is that the mandate, as it stands now, is law. Its promises about the future are not law. Nor is there any indication that these future changes in any way will constitute exemption from the coerced coverage of objectionable activities.

“What we are saying is simple: the law, as it is now, infringes on our rights, and we only have temporary protection from the damage it does. Right now, the government is momentarily ceasing its illegal conduct so that the legal challenge to it is dismissed, only to return to the conduct later. That is why we are petitioning, and will continue to petition, the courts to declare the mandate unconstitutional. And we have every confidence that we will be successful.”

Robert J. Muise, Esq., American Freedom Law Center, stated, “While we disagree with the court’s ruling, it is not a ruling on the merits of our legal challenge to the HHS mandate. Consequently, as soon as the government ‘finalizes’ its implementing regulations in August, we will be right back in court, challenging the mandate and protecting religious freedom.”

Charles S. LiMandri, also a lead attorney for Priests for Life in the case, stated, “We are pleased that we were successful in securing a Stipulation from the Department of Justice and an Order from the court that guarantees that Priests for Life will not have the current unconscionable HHS Mandate enforced against it. The Department of Justice has further represented in court that final amended rules concerning the HHS Mandate will be in effect by August 2013. If, as we expect, the final HHS regulations continue to be morally objectionable, Priests for Life will still have five months in which to initiate further legal proceedings before they would have to comply with them. We are confident that unless the HHS Mandate is amended to include acceptable conscience protections, that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately hold that it violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

For more details, see www.priestsforlife.org/hhsmandate

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.






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One Court Rules In Favor of Religious Freedom, Another Rules Against It.

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 20, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, commented today about divergent court rulings in suits challenging the HHS mandate.

On Friday, Nov. 16, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., granted a temporary injunction in a suit brought by Tyndale House Publishers. The judge ruled that the mandate “substantially burdens” the Bible publisher’s right to exercise its religious freedom by imposing financial penalties for failing to offer birth control and emergency contraception coverage to its employees.

“We are, of course, gratified by this injunction, and in our own lawsuit, maintain that we at Priests for Life are similarly burdened by the unjust HHS mandate,” Fr. Pavone noted.

In regard to yesterday’s ruling by a federal judge in Oklahoma City who said that Hobby Lobby Stores must provide insurance coverage for morning-after and week-after abortifacients, Fr. Pavone said.

“These Christian owners of the arts and crafts business have said they will not pay for abortifacient drugs. We stand with them in defiance of this violation of their rights.”

“Actually, with so many lawsuits filed against the HHS mandate, we expect divergent rulings in different courts. Ultimately, this will raise the likelihood that the Supreme Court will take up the issue, which it should,” Fr. Pavone explained.

Father Pavone said he remains confident that Priests for Life will prevail with its lawsuit, which was filed in February and was the fourth one to be launched.

“As I’ve said, this administration is on a collision course with those who treasure religious liberty. Now that the lawsuits can no longer be seen as campaign issues, they will be judged on their merit. And merit is on our side.”

Father Pavone issued an invitation for all American citizens to express their solidarity with Priests for Life by signing the “Citizens’ Amicus Brief” at www.priestsforlife.org/hhsmandate/amicus-brief.aspx.”

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.






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Lawsuits Against HHS Mandate Continue With Obama Re-Election

Friday, November 9th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 9, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, NY — Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, welcomed news that the first lawsuit filed against the Obama administration’s HHS mandate will be heard by a federal appeals court.

The suit, brought by Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, will be heard Dec. 14 by the U.S. Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia.

Priests for Life’s lawsuit, filed in February, was the fourth of some 30 actions that challenge the constitutionality of the mandate.

“A different outcome on Election Day, followed by the elimination of this mandate, would have resolved the problems these lawsuits seek to correct. Now, however, they are more important than ever,” said Father Pavone. “This administration is on a collision course with the Catholic Church, and with anyone who treasures the religious liberty guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. It’s encouraging that the Court of Appeals has decided to hear the Belmont Abbey suit, and I’m confident Priests for Life’s suit also will have its day in court and that we will prevail.

“Meanwhile, we invite all citizens to express their solidarity with us by signing the “Citizens’ Amicus Brief” at www.priestsforlife.org/hhsmandate/amicus-brief.aspx.”

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.






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Fr. Pavone to speak at San Francisco Standup Rally Saturday

Friday, October 19th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 19, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, will speak at a Standup for Religious Freedom Rally at 1 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 20, outside the Federal Building in San Francisco.

The rally is one of hundreds that have taken place nationwide in an ongoing protest against the Obama administration mandate to make employers provide contraception, sterilization services and abortifacient drugs to their employees free of charge.

“Priests for Life will continue to defy this mandate,” Father Pavone said. “Our lawsuit, filed in February, is continuing to make its way through the legal system. The mandate attacks freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to life itself.”

Priests for Life organized Standup rallies in Manhattan in March and June that were attended by thousands of people. Saturday’s rally in San Francisco is sponsored by the California Civil Rights Foundation. Its founder, Walter B. Hoye II, has described the mandate as “a grave and mortal threat to our religious freedom.”

The federal building is at 90 Seventh St. in San Francisco.

For more information about this nationwide event, go to www.standupforreligiousfreedom.com.

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.






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Priests for Life and Fr. Pavone declare “Beginning of the End” of the HHS Mandate

Monday, July 30th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 30, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, released the following statement today regarding the preliminary injunction issued in a lawsuit filed by a private company against the Health and Human Services contraception mandate. The ruling marks the first legal victory over the mandate.

“This decision marks the beginning of the end of the unjust and unconstitutional HHS mandate. Even though the Aug. 1 deadline for compliance is still in effect for organizations like Priests for Life, it’s good news that the suit filed by the owners of Hercules Industries has been successful in holding off, at least temporarily, this mandate that is so clearly a violation of the religious freedom guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the laws of our country. This gives us reason to be optimistic as our own lawsuit progresses.

“But no matter what happens, there is no way we will comply with a law that calls for us to violate our consciences by paying for contraception, abortifacient drugs and sterilization services.”

In Newland vs. Sebelius, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado ruled on July 27 that the constitutional and statutory rights of the plaintiffs – siblings who own a heating and air conditioning company – would be harmed by enforcement of the HHS mandate. Judge John L. Kane also found that Hercules likely would prevail in its claim that the mandate is a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In his ruling, the judge noted that Hercules’ owners, William Newland, Paul Newland, James Newland, and Christine Ketterhagen, run their company according to Catholic principles and teachings, even when those religious, ethical and moral teachings impact their profits.

Fr. Pavone added, “Priests for Life is proud to be in the company of the Newlands and so many others who are not willing to set aside their deeply held beliefs, or their legal rights, even when threatened with economic catastrophe. We are confident that our lawsuit, filed Feb. 15, will protect us from the imposition of more than $1 million a year in fines.

“In addition to pressing on with our legal action, Priests for Life will also help once again to organize nationwide rallies for religious freedom, to take place on Saturday, October 20.”

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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Stand Up for Freedom at NYC site where Bill of Rights was adopted

Thursday, June 7th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 7, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

NEW YORK, NY — Students of American history know that on April 30, 1789, at the site of what is now the Federal Hall National Memorial, George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States. But this Wall Street monument to liberty is famous for much more.

In 1735, newspaper editor John Peter Zenger was tried and acquitted there on charges of sedition after exposing government corruption in his paper, the New York Weekly Journal.

In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress was assembled there to protest taxation without representation.

And on Sept. 25, 1789, the First Congress met there to adopt the Bill of Rights, the first Ten Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

On Friday, June 8, a cross-section of Americans who cherish their First Amendment rights will gather at noon outside Federal Hall to protest a blatant attempt by the Obama administration to curtail religious liberty.

The Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally will be one of 150 such rallies to take place simultaneously across the country in protest of a Health and Human Services mandate that would force employers to include coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortifacient drugs in the health insurance plans they offer. The mandate is in direct violation of the moral law.

“This is an assault on the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech granted to all Americans by the First Amendment,” said Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life. The Staten Island-based ministry is organizing the New York City event.

“The Administration is offering some groups a year to ‘adapt’ to the rule. But you don’t ‘adapt’ to injustice. You oppose it. We are opposing it in the courts, because Priests for Life launched the fourth lawsuit against this mandate back in February,” Father Pavone said. “This Friday, we will oppose it also in the streets, as we help to organize and promote these rallies nationwide.”

Friday’s NY City rally is the second one at the site. More than 1,200 people attended the first Stand up Rally on March 23.

Speakers on Friday will include Dr. Alveda King, full-time director of African-American Outreach for Priests for Life and the niece of Martin Luther King Jr.; Father Agustino Torres of the Franciscan Friars; Chris Bell, founder of Good Counsel Homes, and Dr. Anne Nolte of the St. Gianna Center for Women’s Health.

“Anyone who cares about the rights that my Uncle Martin died for should make time to come to this rally,” Dr. King said. “What’s at stake here goes way beyond contraception.”

Federal Hall National Memorial is at 26 Wall St. To find a rally elsewhere in the country, please send an email to rally@priestsforlife.org or call 347-286-7250.

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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Father Pavone hails news of 12 new lawsuits filed against HHS mandate

Monday, May 21st, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 21, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

Staten Island, NY—Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, applauded the additional 12 lawsuits filed around the country today in protest of the Health and Human Services mandate forcing employers to provide coverage for activities they find objectionable.

The lawsuits represent 43 plaintiffs, including the Archdioceses of New York, Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, the Michigan Catholic Conference, and several dioceses.

“These new actions mean there are now 23 lawsuits filed against this assault on religious freedom,’ said Father Pavone, whose organization was the fourth to file suit against the mandate. “Since Priests for Life launched its lawsuit in February, we have urged other organizations and dioceses to do the same. When there are multiple federal lawsuits on the same issue in different parts of the country, this can create the potential kind of conflict that the Supreme Court may be more likely to resolve.”

Besides suing Kathleen Sebelius and the HHS, Father Pavone and Priests for Life are helping organize rallies nationwide to stand up for religious freedom on Friday, June 8. The Priests for Life team is organizing the rally in New York City.

“The fact that the New York Archdiocese is now part of the legal assault on this mandate will, I am sure, create renewed interest and participation in our June 8 rally. We invite all to take part.”

More information on the rally can be obtained by emailing rally@priestsforlife.org.

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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Catholic Group Responds to Obama’s Desperate Attempt to “Dismiss” Lawsuit Against ObamaCare

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 2, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

Staten Island, NY — Priests for Life, a New York-based international pro-life organization of Catholic clergy and laity, today announced that their attorneys have responded to the Obama Administration’s desperate attempt to “shut down” the group’s lawsuit that’s been filed to stop ObamaCare from violating the conscience and morals of Americans.

Recently, Obama’s lawyers sent a letter to the court announcing its intention to file a motion to dismiss — claiming erroneously that Priests for Life does not have legal “standing” to bring the lawsuit, and that the organization hasn’t been “injured” yet because the regulations won’t take effect until January.

Priests for Life lead attorney Charles LiMandri argued that the government is simply wrong. He wrote in his response, “Priests for Life has standing, its claims are ripe for review, and this court is ‘obliged’ to address the merits of each.”

LiMandri quotes Thomas v. Union Carbide Agric. Prod. Co., 473 U.S. at 581 (1985)—a case whose precedence applies here: “One does not have to await the consummation of threatened injury to obtain preventive relief.”

The lawsuit that scares the Obama Administration, Priests for Life v. Sebelius, seeks to permanently block the implementation of the HHS mandate that imposes clear violations of conscience upon any and all citizens who morally object to abortion and contraception.

“Since the HHS mandate directly affects Priests for Life—and every U.S. citizen—through compulsory funding of contraception and abortion-inducing drugs and devices, our lawsuit is 100 percent legitimate,” says LiMandri.

LiMandri points out that the HHS ‘Abortion Mandate’ forces Priests for Life to either pay for abortion-causing pills… promote them… or be penalized if their employee health-care plan doesn’t comply with the audacious dictatorial decrees of ObamaCare.

“According to the ObamaCare law as it’s written, Priests for Life would be fined as much as $100 per day, per employee. This would cost Priests for Life nearly $2 million a year in fines. And we’re not going to accept this at all.”

Priests for Life is leading the way with this legal challenge of the constitutionality of ObamaCare based on religious freedom issues.

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, states, “We urge our Priests for Life family and all concerned Americans to pray for the success of this legal battle. In my travels across the nation, I see the strength and faith of the American people, and I know we will prevail.”

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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Obama Lawyers Desperately Try to “Dismiss” Lawsuit By Pro-Life Catholic Group Against ObamaCare

Thursday, April 26th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 26, 2012

Contact:Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

Staten Island, NY — Priests for Life, a New York-based international pro-life organization of Catholic clergy and laity, today announced that the Obama Administration’s lawyers are trying desperately to “shut down” the lawsuit that’s been filed to stop ObamaCare from violating the conscience and morals of America’s Catholics.

The lawsuit, Priests for Life v. Sebelius, seeks to permanently block the implementation of the HHS mandate that imposes clear violations of conscience upon any and all citizens who morally object to abortion and contraception.

“Since the HHS mandate directly affects Priests for Life—and every U.S. citizen—through compulsory funding of contraception and abortion-inducing drugs and devices, our lawsuit is 100 percent legitimate,” says Priests for Life’s lead attorney Charles LiMandri.

LiMandri elaborates: “And yet, the Obama lawyers are trying to say that we don’t have ‘standing’ because the abortion mandate ‘doesn’t go into effect’ for PFL for several months. This is a thoroughly ridiculous and embarrassing argument for Obama’s attorneys to make. It shows how desperate they are to dismiss our lawsuit—even to the point of resorting to outrageous arguments such as the ones they’re using now.”

LiMandri points out that the HHS ‘Abortion Mandate’ forces Priests for Life to either pay for abortion-causing pill… promote them… or be heavily fined if their employee health-care plan doesn’t comply with the audacious dictatorial decrees of ObamaCare.

“According to the ObamaCare law as it’s written, Priests for Life would be fined as much as $100 per day, per employee. This could cost Priests for Life over $1 million a year in fines. And we’re not going to accept this at all.”

Priests for Life is preparing its response, which must be filed with the court by April 30, with the assistance of the American Freedom Law Center. The group’s attorneys are working overtime to respond so quickly.

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, said, “As our attorneys do their work, I ask our supporters to join in our prayer campaign and our Citizens’ Amicus brief. Of this I am confident: We will prevail, life will prevail!”

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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Show support for the First Amendment at Rally for Religious Freedom

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 22, 2012

Contact: Andre Kim
347-286-7277

NEW YORK, NY — Friday’s Rally for Religious Freedom, taking place in more than 100 cities across the country, will mark the second anniversary of the passage of the abortion-friendly Patient Protection Affordable Care Act.

But Janet Morana, executive director of Priests for Life and co-founder of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, notes the rallies will take place just one day after another infamous anniversary. March 22, 1972 marks 40 years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized contraception for unmarried people.

“It’s taken 40 years, but we finally have a president with the audacity to violate the First Amendment and call for free contraception for all Americans,” said Mrs. Morana, who will offer a keynote address at the noon rally tomorrow at the Federal Hall National Memorial. “We have to stand up and say ‘We will not surrender our freedom of religion in favor of a blister pack full of carcinogens.’”

The rallies have been organized in protest of the Health and Human Services Mandate that calls on all employers to provide contraception, sterilization services and abortion-inducing drugs to their workers free of charge, even if they have religious objections.

Priests for Life, which is organizing the New York City rally, filed the fourth of nine lawsuits against the Obama administration over the contraception/abortifacient mandate.

Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, urged all Americans who treasure the rights guaranteed them in the U.S. Constitution to attend one of the rallies.

“Please join thousands of your fellow citizens as they gather in prayer and public witness in cities and towns all across the US to oppose this mandate,” Father Pavone said.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will send a representative to read a letter at the rally. Also speaking at the bilingual rally in Manhattan will be Dr. Alveda King, director of African-American Outreach for Priests for Life; Father Victor Salomon, Director of Hispanic Outreach for Priests for Life; Father Agustino Torres of the Franciscan Friars; Chris Slattery, founder of Expectant Mother Care; Monsignor Philip Reilly of Helpers of God’s Precious Infants; Bronx City Councilman Fernando Cabrera; Chris Bell, founder of Good Counsel Homes, and Dr. Anne Nolte of the St. Gianna Center for Women’s Health.

The lawsuits and rallies are accompanied by a prayer campaign to reverse the mandate; prayers for each day can be found at www.PrayerCampaign.org.
Federal Hall National Memorial is at 26 Wall St. For information, visit www.StandUpForReligiousFreedom.com, email Rally@PriestsForLife.org or call 347-286-7250.

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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