On Wednesday, May 6, 2020, The Supreme Court held telephone oral arguments in the Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, regarding the state’s attempt to block religious exemption to the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act. The case first began in 2011, when religious groups, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, objected to the contraceptive mandate. Becket, a religious liberty advocacy organization is representing the Little Sisters.

Catholic Law Professor Mark Rienzi, president of Becket and counsel for the Little Sisters, spoke with reporters about the three main statutes explored by the Supreme Court in their questioning.

National Catholic Register
By: Lauretta Brown
Date: May 8, 2020
Supreme Court Discusses Religious Freedom, Protection for the Little Sisters of the Poor

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“One of course is the Affordable Care Act,” he said. “There was a lot of discussion between the justices and the parties about the scope of discretion that the Affordable Care Act gives to the federal agencies to decide what preventative services employers must provide.”

“Pennsylvania made clear that they take a narrower view of the authority given by the Affordable Care Act to the government to create exemptions,” he continued. “They take a narrower view not only than the Trump administration … but also they take a narrower view than the Obama administration.”

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