The founder of Domino’s Pizza sued the federal government over the Obamacare HHS mandate in December. Tom Monaghan, a devout Roman Catholic, currently offers health insurance to employees that excludes contraception and abortion. The Obama Administration and Democrats believe Monaghan should have to pay for these services despite his religious beliefs.
On Sunday, Federal District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff ordered a temporary halt on the Obama Administration’s birth-control policy for Domino’s.
The Hill reported:
A federal judge has ordered a temporary halt on the Obama administration’s birth-control coverage policy for Tom Monaghan, the Catholic billionaire who founded Domino’s Pizza.
Federal District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff issued the decision Sunday, less than two days before the policy would have taken effect and exposed Monaghan to fines for non-compliance.
“Plaintiff has shown that abiding by the mandate will substantially burden his exercise of religion,” Zatkoff wrote.
“The government has failed to satisfy its burden of showing that its actions were narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest. … This factor weighs in favor of granting Plaintiffs’ motion.”
Monaghan recently filed suit against the policy, which requires most employers to cover a range of birth-control methods in their health plans. Churches and houses of worship are exempt, and employees of religiously affiliated institutions such as Catholic schools will be able to obtain birth control directly from their insurance company, also without a co-pay.
