A U.S. District judge ruled Thursday Sen. Paul Wieland (R-Mo.) and his wife can opt out of the state's health insurance plan due to its coverage of contraception, which conflicts with the Wieland's religious beliefs, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The Wielands argued paying for contraceptive coverage included in their health insurance plan opposes their Catholic beliefs.
Despite winning the suit, Sen. Wieland said he would continue to keep his family in the health plan provided for state lawmakers. Catholic clergy has told him that as long as he fought the issue, he is not spiritually errant.
In their argument, Sen. Wieland and Mrs. Wieland cited the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court case involving Hobby Lobby that ruled business owners can refuse to offer contraceptive coverage based on religious objections.
The Affordable Care Act requires most employers hiring more than 50 full-time employees to offer health insurance that covers contraceptives. In the case, federal lawyers claimed the ACA mandate did not impose burden on the senator and his family, as they could choose not to use the coverage.
The attorney representing the Wielands said although the judge's order only applies to his clients and the state insurance plan, it carries larger implications since other families with similar religious concerns could cite the ruling.
Sen. Wieland and his wife filed the suit in 2013.
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