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Auto lighting co.'s case illuminates problems with abortion pill mandate

Alliance Defending Freedom attorney available to media following hearing

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Attorney sound bite:  Matt Bowman

WHO: Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Legal Counsel Matt Bowman
WHAT: Available for media interviews following hearing in Grote Industries v. Sebelius
WHEN: Wednesday, May 22, immediately following hearing which begins at 9:30 a.m. CDT
WHERE: U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St., Room 2721, Chicago

CHICAGO — Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Legal Counsel Matt Bowman will be available for media interviews Wednesday immediately following his oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit on behalf of an Indiana-based job provider challenging the Obama administration’s abortion pill mandate.

The 7th Circuit issued an order stopping enforcement of the mandate against Grote Industries, a family-run auto lighting manufacturer, in January. The mandate forces employers, regardless of their religious or moral convictions, to provide insurance coverage for abortion-inducing drugs and devices, sterilization, and contraception under threat of heavy penalties.

“All Americans, including job creators and providers, should be free to honor God and live according to their consciences,” said Senior Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “As many other courts have found, the abortion pill mandate is an excessive burden on the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution to all Americans.”

Grote Industries, based in Madison and founded in 1901 by William Grote, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of vehicle lighting and safety systems and operates in multiple countries in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Mike Wilkins, one of more than 2,200 allied attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom, represents Grote Industries together with allied attorney Michael Cork, also of Indianapolis. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys are co-counsel in the case.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys and allied attorneys are litigating 10 other lawsuits against the mandate. The lawsuits represent a large cross-section of Protestants and Catholics who object to the mandate. Currently, the administration is losing in court nationwide with 19 out of 26 court rulings going against the mandate.
 
  • Fact sheet on the case
  • Pronunciation guide: Bowman (BOH’-min), Grote (GROW’-tee)
 
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
 
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