Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza and devout Catholic won his bid for an emergency order to prevent enforcement of the HHS contraception mandate while the lawsuit is moving forward.
Monaghan believes requiring schools, businesses and other religious organizations to pay for these drugs is a “gravely immoral” practice. He filed suit in federal court for Domino’s Farms, a business development complex.
Monaghan currently offers health insurance to his employees, but this insurance does not cover abortions or contraceptive drugs that induce early abortions. He says the mandate violates his First Amendment religious rights and has asked that it be struck down.
Pro-life legal group, The Thomas More Law Center filed on behalf of Monaghan an Emergency Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order on Friday, January 4.
In a statement the Thomas More Law Center said, “The HHS Mandate requires employers to pay for health insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization under threat of draconian fines. It also requires employers to educate their employees about use of those drugs, Tom Monaghan is a staunch pro-life advocate and Catholic philanthropist. His religious beliefs prohibit him from paying for abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization.”
Saying that the company does not have to immediately implement the HHS mandate, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Zatkoff ruled in favor of the request saying the “Plaintiff has shown that abiding by the mandate will substantially burden his exercise of religion. The Government has failed to satisfy its burden of showing that its actions were narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest.”
As of this writing over 40 separate lawsuits have been filed challenging the HHS mandate. Those filing suit include Craft giant Hobby Lobby, the Eternal Word Television Networks and the following higher education institutions: Wheaton College, East Texas Baptist University, Houston Baptist University, Belmont Abbey College, Colorado Christian University and Ave Maria University.
Monaghan founded Ave Maria University although the law suits are not connected.
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