- Public comment on the HHS Mandate has closed
- I find it interesting that Well over 200,000 public comments were received before last Monday’s deadline, representing the most filed ever in American history and this was not found to be newsworthy.
- A federal appeals court in Denver has granted Hobby Lobby Stores Inc.’s request for the entire court to hear its legal challenge over part of the Affordable Care Act
- Typically, appeals cases are heard by a panel of three judges, but Hobby Lobby had asked the full court to hear the case and since their request was granted, the case will be heard by all nine judges comprising the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. This is rare and not newsworthy.
- The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday also granted the Oklahoma City-based crafts retailer’s request to expedite the court case.
- I would certainly hope so as the company faces potential fines of up to $1.3 million per day for failing to comply with the health care law beginning in July. A hearing date has yet to be set, but Hobby Lobby hopes to have a nine-judge panel will hear oral arguments in the case in April or May.
- Priests for Life group's case has been dismissed, as requested by the government, on grounds of "lack of ripeness."
- This is not as bad as it sounds. What it really means is since the proposed regulations are still being formed, this organization can renew its legal challenge if it is not content with the changes once those regulations are final. In other words, the government does really know what it wants to do here and so filing a lawsuit now is like trying to stand still on quicksand in the back of a moving truck.
Now remembering that so far, more than 50 lawsuits have been filed against the mandate on the basis of violating constitutional protections of religious freedom, I find it odd that NONE of the above information is found to be newsworthy. Of course the common thread in all of this is the attack on religious liberty. There is no longer any room in the public arena for religion. It should be a strictly private matter. This is the basis for the proposed laws and organizations who vocally oppose religion, in any form, in public. Organizations like the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Rational Response Squad, Southern Poverty Law Center and others. They vehemently oppose public religious views and label comments against gay marriage and homosexual unions and activities as hate speech. They insist that one should not impose God on others.
With this in mind, I would now draw your attention back to Boston and Texas. These groups are surprisingly silent when public figures like President Obama say something like “the prayers of the nation are with the victims and their families.” Why do these people not speak up when tragedy happens and people turn to God? These governors, congressional representatives and others are implicitly stating that there is in fact a God. Isn’t this hate speech according to their rules? Perhaps everyone on both sides of this controversy should start saying what they mean! It seems pretty easy to say to people “you’re in my thoughts and prayers” but do we mean it? Why is it that in times of crisis and tragedy people look to God that they deny the rest of the time? If you believe in God, act like it in public and private. If you don’t, then be consistent. Don’t cower during tragedies and crisis.
Say what you mean and mean what you say! Thoughts?