Several groups stood up in defense of Little Sisters of the Poor today in their year’s long battle to fight $70 million in fines that the nuns face for refusing to go along with Obamacare.
The Little Sisters, a Catholic organization that provides care and assistance to the elderly and the poor around the world, has refused to offer healthcare to its members that provide contraception and abortions.
As a result, Obama’s government went after the group of nuns, and activist judges have sustained Obama’s aggressive actions – with one judge even ruling that their faith was wrong on the matter.
As a result of standing by their faith, the group now faces $70 million in fines.
After losing one legal battle after another, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case and a diverse group of leaders and organizations have filed “friends of the court” briefs in support of Little Sisters of the Poor.
“We have great admiration for the Little Sisters who are standing up not just for themselves and the elderly poor they serve but for the rights of all people of faith, including Jews,” said Rabbi Mitchell Rocklin. “Their courage is an example to all of us.” Rabbi Rocklin is a member of the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America.
“We stand with the Little Sisters because America’s proudest moments have come when the many have joined to defend the rights of the few, and we know too well the real cost when our government ignores its promises and puts expediency above principle,” said Pastor Robert Soto of the Lipan Apache Tribe in Texas.
“We are overjoyed and deeply grateful for the diverse outpouring of support we have received from such a variety of people and groups,” said Sister Loraine Marie Maguire, Mother Provincial for the Little Sisters of the Poor. “We have been serving the elderly poor for over 175 years and are simply asking the government to allow us to continue our life’s work without being forced to choose between our faith and millions in government fines.”
Twelve groups have filed briefs to support the Sisters including the Cato Institute and Southern Baptist Organizations.
President Obama could drop the case at any time by agreeing with Congressional legislation for religious exemptions but has refused to do so.