ADF helps church fight CA law

A church in California is asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals not to force the congregation to pay for abortions. 

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing Skyline Wesleyan Church in its lawsuit against California Department of Managed Care, which requires the health care plans of churches to cover elective abortions.

A lower court ruled in favor of the state agency over Skyline, which is located in San Diego.

ADF attorney Jeremiah Galus says "unelected bureaucrats" at the DMC issued their own new interpretation of a 40-year-old state law.

"And they did it," he says, "after consulting and coordinating with pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood."

No date has been set for arguments before the 9th Circuit. 

"The state will have an opportunity to respond with a brief of their own. We'll have another opportunity to reply," he explains. "So we're looking at the end of the year when briefing is done and then the court will set an oral argument date."

In the meantime, Galus says people should be paying attention to this case, whether they live in California or not, because of the 9^th Circuit's jurisdiction. 

"What they apply their stamp of approval to applies to not just California," he warns, "but all the states within their jurisdiction."