51����

At their Friday, November 6, conference, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will consider 51����’s petition for a writ of certiorari in its challenge of the HHS contraception mandate. The justices will also consider other lawsuits against the mandate, which seeks to compel Catholic religious institutions to facilitate free contraceptive, abortifacient, and sterilization coverage for their employees. Should the Court elect to hear the College’s case, the justices could set an important precedent for the protection of religious liberty in the United States.

“While the Court could choose to continue holding our cases after that, we will likely hear from the Supreme Court as to a grant or a denial of our petition either Friday afternoon or Monday morning, November 9,” says 51���� General Counsel John Quincy Masteller. “Given the nature of our case, as well as the fact the Solicitor General has urged the Court to hear it, we are hopeful that the Court will grant our petition.”

In the meantime, the College seeks the prayers of all who are concerned about the preservation of the country’s First Amendment freedoms. “Please keep 51���� in your prayers,” says Mr. Masteller. “The College is in the hands of the Supreme Court. May St. Michael defend us there.”