Yesterday two circuit courts of appeal granted stays pending appeal in suits by religious non-profits challenging the Affordable Care Act contraceptive coverage accommodation. In Diocese of Cheyenne v. Burwell, (10th Cir., June 30, 2014), the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals held that it would enjoin enforcement of the accommodation against several Wyoming Catholic charitable and educational institutions so long as they inform the Secretary of Health and Human Services in writing (but not necessarily using the government's form) that they are non-profit organizations that hold themselves out as religious and have religious objections to providing coverage for contraceptive services.
In Eternal World Television Network, Inc. v. Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (11th Cir., June 30, 2014), the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction pending appeal to a religious non-profit broadcasting network challenging the contraceptive mandate accommodation rules. Judge Pryor wrote a 26-page special concurrence explaining why EWTN is likely to succeed on the merits. Both the court's order and Judge Pryor's opinion cited yesterday's Supreme Court decision in Hobby Lobby for support. [Thanks to Stephen Blakeman for the lead.]
