Thomas More Society Religious Exemption Defense Keeps Religious Rights Intact: At the end of October 2016, Missouri State Senator Paul Wieland and his family enrolled in an abortifacients/contraceptive-free healthcare plan in accordance with his recent religious freedom victory in federal court. The Wielands drew national attention as private citizens whose case was fought on the same legal principles upheld in the United States Supreme Court case Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius: that religious rights cannot be usurped under the Affordable Care Act. Lifelong Roman Catholics, Wieland and his wife, Terri, sued the government over the Obamacare requirement that forced them to pay for coverage of birth control – including abortifacients – that are not in accord with their faith, in Paul Joseph Wieland, et al. v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, et al.

The Wieland family received permanent injunctive relief from a U.S. District Court Judge in the summer of 2016, allowing them to purchase health insurance coverage that does not include abortifacients, contraceptives, or sterilizations. This victory over the federal Health and Human Services mandate allowed the Wielands to obtain health insurance coverage that does not conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs. Throughout, Thomas More Society attorneys kept the Wielands’ religious rights at the forefront of the case.

Tim Belz, Thomas More Society Special Counsel, noted the irony in the Wieland family having to take the Obama administration to court to preserve their guaranteed right to religious freedom. The judge in the case pointed out that all the government needs to do is allow people to check a box to opt out of contraceptive coverage.

“We are pleased that religious liberty has prevailed,” stated Belz. He then assured that the Thomas More Society will continue its vigorous defense of religious liberty on multiple fronts.

“Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan offered us an option that respects our religious beliefs,” explained Wieland. “This is a relief to finally be able to participate in a health care plan that doesn’t violate our religious liberties.”

Read about the Wieland family’s religious liberty case here.