The Little Sisters of the Poor are once again defending their religious freedom in federal court, asking the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals to preserve an exemption that allows them to continue their ministry without being required to subsidize contraceptives that conflict with Catholic teaching.
According to LifeSiteNews, attorneys with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty appeared before the Third Circuit in Philadelphia on Tuesday, seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that favored Pennsylvania and New Jersey in their ongoing challenge to the religious exemption.
The legal dispute traces back to the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate introduced during the Obama administration, which required many employers to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives, including drugs the Little Sisters believe can end the life of an unborn child after fertilization. The Little Sisters refused to comply, arguing that doing so would violate their Catholic faith.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the order’s favor in 2020, upholding a religious exemption established during the first Trump administration. However, according to LifeSiteNews, Pennsylvania and New Jersey continued challenging that exemption, leading to additional litigation. In August 2025, a federal district court in Philadelphia ruled in favor of the two states, prompting the current appeal.
According to LifeSiteNews, Becket President Mark Rienzi criticized the prolonged legal battle, saying, “The 14-year legal crusade against the Little Sisters has been needless, grotesque, and un-American.”
He added, “The States have no business trying to take away the Little Sisters’ federal civil rights. The Third Circuit should toss the States’ lawsuit into the dustbin of history and uphold the protection the Little Sisters already won at the Supreme Court … twice.”
Mother Loraine Marie Maguire of the Little Sisters of the Poor emphasized that the congregation’s focus has always been serving those in need rather than defending itself in court.
“For nearly 200 years, our order has welcomed the elderly poor and dying into our homes as we would welcome Christ Himself,” she said. “It is painful that we have spent more than a decade defending that mission in court. We simply want to continue our work without being forced to violate our faith, and we pray Pennsylvania and New Jersey will end this needless harassment.”
Following oral arguments, Becket Vice President and Senior Counsel Lori Windham said the organization believes the lower court’s decision should be overturned.
“After 15 years, you’d think government officials would know better than to fight nuns,” Windham said, adding that Becket expects a ruling from the Third Circuit by the end of the year, according to LifeSiteNews.
The case also continues to highlight the broader debate surrounding contraceptive drugs that some pro-life physicians argue may have abortifacient effects. According to LifeSiteNews, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists maintains that certain emergency contraceptives may prevent implantation after fertilization under some circumstances, while federal regulators have stated that products such as Plan B are not classified as abortifacients.
For the Little Sisters of the Poor, however, the central issue remains religious liberty. The order is asking the appellate court to preserve the protections it previously secured so it can continue its ministry to the elderly poor without being compelled to act against its Catholic beliefs.
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