My friend Mark Barrett, a lawyer with an apparently amazing capacity to read and absorb legal decisions, writes with this interesting quote from Justice Ginsburg’s concurring opinion (page 29):
A mandate to purchase a particular product would be unconstitutional if, for example, the edict impermissibly abridged the freedom of speech, interfered with the free exercise of religion, or infringed on a liberty interest protected by the Due Process Clause.
Update: Speaking before his remarks at the symposium on Socially Responsible Investing we sponsored this evening with the Catholic Finance Association, William Mumma, the head of the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty , brought up Justice Ginsburg’s comment and said that he thought this meant that the legal challenges to the individual mandate would succeed. I wasn’t taking notes and he didn’t say much about it, but that was the gist.
While I have you, can I ask you something? I’ll be quick.
Twenty-five thousand people subscribe to First Things. Why can’t that be fifty thousand? Three million people read First Things online like you are right now. Why can’t that be four million?
Let’s stop saying “can’t.” Because it can. And your year-end gift of just $50, $100, or even $250 or more will make it possible.
How much would you give to introduce just one new person to First Things? What about ten people, or even a hundred? That’s the power of your charitable support.
Make your year-end gift now using this secure link or the button below.
