The question of who will cover birth control for employees of a Denver-based order of nuns is on hold for now, pending an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- July 14: Nuns Lose Fight Over Contraception Coverage
- Dec. 2014: Denver Nuns Take Contraception Coverage To Court
The Little Sisters of the Poor are already exempt from covering birth control for lay employees, under a religious waiver to the Affordable Care Act. But the law requires them to notify federal officials that they object to such contraception, so that the government can arrange for contraceptive coverage some other way.
The nuns argue that the notification and subsequent arrangement for coverage from another party makes them complicit in their employees' treatment and therefore violates their religious freedom.
The appeals court rejected that argument, but has now agreed to stay its decision until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether to take up the case.
