This Case Could Redefine Religious Freedom

On behalf of six Christian and Missionary Alliance-affiliated ministries, Liberty Institute and lead counsel O’Melveny & Myers LLP filed an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief with the Supreme Court in the case of Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell. 

In the brief, the Christian and Missionary Alliance ministries ask the Supreme Court to allow religious organizations to be exempt from providing contraceptives through their health care plans. They argue that the HHS mandate forces religious organizations to violate their faith by providing abortifacients. This requirement infringes on the organizations’ sincere religious belief that all life is sacred and must be protected from conception to natural death.

Liberty Institute President and CEO Kelly Shackelford says, “The Little Sisters of the Poor have dedicated their lives to caring for the poor and elderly in accordance with their faith. Now, the government is trying to force these nuns, who have taken vows of poverty, to violate their conscience or pay a fine. We call upon the Supreme Court to protect the rights of the Little Sisters and other religious non-profits to uphold their faith—without being fined for doing so.”

Greg Jacob of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, serving as lead counsel for the ministries, says, “This case will impact the right of every religious nonprofit in America to protection from being compelled to engage in conduct that violates the tenets of their faith. We are hopeful the Supreme Court will grant the petition of the Little Sisters that this amicus brief supports and review this consequential case.”  

The Six Christian and Missionary Alliance Ministries

The signatories on the brief include four religious, nonprofit retirement communities and two religious, nonprofit colleges associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. They are: Shell Point Retirement Community, the Alliance Community for Retirement Living, Chapel Pointe at Carlisle, Town and Country Manor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Simpson University and Crown College.