ANN ARBOR, Michigan (WordNews.org) Dec. 30, 2012  — The Thomas More Law Center has filed an Emergency Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop enforcement of the HHS Mandate in order to prevent immediate irreparable injury to his fundamental rights.

Tom Monaghan

The motion was filed on behalf of Tom Monaghan, described by the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) as a “staunch pro-life advocate and Catholic philanthropist.” The center said his religious beliefs prohibit him from paying for abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization.
According to TMLC, the new health care law requires employers to pay for health insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization “under threat of draconian fines.”

TMLC attorney Erin Mersino has asked Federal District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff to hear the motion “at the earliest possible time” because the HHS Mandate takes effect against Monaghan and his Domino’s Farms Corp. on Jan. 1, 2013.

If granted, the temporary restraining order would permit Monaghan to continue to provide insurance for his employees that does not violate his constitutionally and statutorily granted rights to free exercise of religion, free speech, and free association.

In a strongly worded brief, Mersino accuses the government of blatant violations of Monaghan’s constitutional rights to the Free Exercise of Religion and Free Speech guaranteed by the Constitution as well as a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.