Catholic News 2

Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug 13, 2016 / 03:18 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Despite a Supreme Court order seeming to protect its religious freedom, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh says the federal government continues to exert strong pressure to force contraceptives into its health care plans.  

The federal government has made “an extremely aggressive interpretation” of a recent Supreme Court’s order, the diocese said Aug. 11. The government is “apparently trying to take over” its health plans.

The government aims to force the diocese’s third party administrators to include objectionable coverage in self-insured plans.

“We think that is an erroneous reading of what the Supreme Court said,” the diocese stated.

Under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the federal government mandated that many health care plans cover sterilization procedures and contraceptive drugs, including some drugs that can cause early abortions. The mandates would require Catholic-run organizations to help aid access to procedures and drugs that violate Catholic morals.

Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh was the lead plaintiff in one of the lawsuits challenging the mandate. Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh and the Little Sisters of the Poor were also parties to the case. Over 300 plaintiffs have filed legal challenges to the mandate or joined others’ challenges.

They argued that the government mandate violated their religious freedom. They also objected that the government granted selective exemptions for the mandate to other organizations and its proposed revisions were gravely insufficient.

In May 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ordered the case to be returned to a lower court due to new developments in the case. The order was considered a win for the plaintiffs.

The decision also authorized the federal government to begin the process of providing contraceptive services to employees of Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh and other objecting agencies, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. In a court filing, the government said it will start notifying insurers to start providing contraceptives.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh, however, is self-insured. The diocese said this self-insured status means there is no obligation or authority for the third party administrator to provide the objectionable coverage.

“The Supreme Court also made clear that we cannot be fined or penalized for refusing to comply with the government's current regulations,” the Diocese of Pittsburgh said. “Therefore, we believe the government’s position is wrong.”

It repeated its willingness to negotiate “a mutually agreeable solution to our impasse over religious freedom.”

The Diocese of Pittsburgh said its counsel and counsels for other Supreme Court litigants met with representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice to engage in the resolution talks the diocese believed the Supreme Court had contemplated.

“The government has been slow to offer anything of substance to pursue a negotiated solution, except to mention its openness to future meetings,” the diocese said.

The diocese said it will work with its insurers, third-party administrators and the government to avoid future litigation.

“We remain in prayer for a mutually agreeable resolution.”

 

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

(Vatican Radio)  Political tensions are reported in Russia where President Vladimir Putin has abruptly replaced his longtime chief-of-staff with a low-profile younger aide. The dismissal of Sergei Ivanov and the appointment of Anton Vayno as his new chief is seen as the latest in a series of reported moves by the Russian leader to rid himself of members of the old guard, amid concerns about his own future.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

In what appeared a tightly choreographed broadcast by Russian state television, Putin briefly thanked his longtime chief-of-staff for his work. But he also made clear it was time for 63-year-old Ivanov to move on. Putin said he respected Ivanov's alleged request for another less prestigious job — the presidential adviser for the environment and transportation.

Sitting behind a table President Putin told him: "I well remember our agreement about your request not to keep you in this current position for more than four years. So, I understand your decision to have another job. And I really believe that you will use all your knowledge and experience to work efficiently in a new position." 

Yet, it's another setback for the outgoing Ivanov. He had been in senior positions since Putin won his first presidential term in 2000. Initially, Ivanov became his defense minister. When Putin had to move into the prime minister's seat in 2008 due to term limits, Ivanov had been considered his likely successor. 

But Kremlin insiders say he ruined his chances by prematurely celebrating his expected nomination. Instead Putin chose Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as his placeholder for the following four years.

Broad authority

When Medvedev obediently stepped down after one term to allow Putin reclaim the presidency in 2012, Ivanov was named the Kremlin chief-of-staff, a job with broad authority. 

Fastforward, the Russian leader now wants one of Ivanov's former and younger deputies, 44-year-old Anton Vayno, as his new chief-of-staff. Vayno quikcly made clear his priorities. "I consider that the main task of the administration is to maintain your work as the head of state," he explained to Putin, with camera's rolling.

"This is subject to legislative activity [and the] control function of implementing your decrees, including the May decrees."

Behind the smiles, analysts see Putin's increasing weariness with his close lieutenants who had known him even before his ascent to the presidency.

Commentators suggested that 63-year-old Putin may want to avoid projecting the image of an aging leader at a time of economic challenges at home and Russia's direct and indirect involvement in conflicts such as in Syria and Ukraine.

More casualties

Ivanov is the latest political casualty in Putin's campaign to rid himself of long-serving members of his entourage.

In the past year, Russian Railways chief Vladimir Yakunin, anti-narcotics czar Viktor Ivanov and Kremlin security chief Yevgeny Murov have all lost their jobs. All are men in their 60s, and all long-time acquaintances of the president.

Another longtime associate, Andrei Belyaninov, who knew Putin since the times they both were KGB secret service officers in East Germany, lost his job as customs chief last month after investigators searched his home and founds hundreds of thousand dollars stashed in shoe boxes.

Among the new appointees to senior government jobs are also former officers of the Kremlin security guard and stolid clerks who had not been known to the public.

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article