Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania.
The Supreme Court ruled on the authority of federal agencies under the ACA to create religious and moral exemptions from contraceptive coverage mandates. The Court found that the Departments had the authority to issue these exemptions and that the rules were free from procedural defects under the APA. The decision reversed the Third Circuit's affirmation of a nationwide injunction against the rules.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania.
The Court held that the Departments had the authority under the ACA to promulgate the religious and moral exemptions.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Free Exercise of Religion is relevant to Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania
The case primarily involves the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which protects the free exercise of religion.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Religious entities challenged the rules under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA).
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Why Administrative Law is relevant to Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania
The case involves the authority of federal agencies to promulgate rules under the ACA, which is a question of administrative law.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Departments had the authority under the ACA to promulgate the religious and moral exemptions.
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Why Procedural Due Process is relevant to Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania
The case addresses whether the agencies followed proper procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Respondents claim that because the final rules were preceded by a document entitled 'Interim Final Rules with Request for Comments' instead of 'General Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,' they are procedurally invalid under the APA.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania that support the summary and concepts above.
The Departments had the authority under the ACA to promulgate the religious and moral exemptions.
The IFRs' request for comments readily satisfied the APA notice requirements.
Concerns that the exemptions thwart Congress' intent cannot justify supplanting the text's plain meaning.
