Justices order court to reconsider ruling on abortion mandate

 By Tom Strode - Posted at Baptist Press:

WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court signaled Monday (Nov. 1) its dissatisfaction with a lower court’s ruling on a state abortion mandate and ordered it to reconsider that decision in light of the justices’ unanimous opinion in support of religious freedom earlier this year.

In the order, the high court nullified a New York court ruling against a Roman Catholic diocese. The diocese had challenged a state requirement that employers fund abortions in workers’ health insurance plans. The justices instructed the state court to reconsider its decision in light of their June opinion in Fulton v. Philadelphia.

In that 9-0 ruling, the high court upheld a faith-based adoption and foster-care agency’s right to carry out its ministry according to its religious convictions. The justices agreed the city of Philadelphia violated the free exercise of religion by refusing to contract with Catholic Social Services because it does not place children with same-sex couples based on its beliefs about marriage and sexuality.

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