"Archdiocese" of Philadelphia loses its bid to block regulations of the Affordable Care Act

catholicphilly.com The Archdiocese of Philadelphia lost its bid to block regulations of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) June 26, but a new ruling will prevent the church from paying fines of $160,000 a day for noncompliance. Judge Ronald Buckwalter of the United States Eastern District Court refused to grant the injunction that the archdiocese and its Catholic Charities agencies had sought earlier this month against the so-called HHS mandate, a set of regulations by the Department of Health and Human Services that would force some religious employers to provide employees with access to contraceptives, abortifacients and other services that violate Catholic beliefs. The archdiocese immediately appealed the decision on Thursday, and by Friday afternoon the Third Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of Buckwalter’s ruling, meaning the penalties for not complying with the regulations would not be assessed beginning July 1 as expected. The appeals’ court ruling directed the archdiocese to review the U.S. Supreme Court’s anticipated decision on Monday morning, June 30, on the cases involving the contraceptive mandate and for-profit employers Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods. Following that review, the archdiocese and Catholic Charities will have until July 9 to file a new appeal on the June 26 decision. to read more: catholicphilly.com