Religion
Related: About this forumHobby Lobby Ruling Expected This Week
June 23, 2014
by Hayley Miller, Digital Media Associate
It is expected that the Supreme Court will announce a ruling in the Hobby Lobby v. Sebeliusis case this week. Over the past few months, HRC and womens rights advocates, and other allies have rallied together against the denial of birth control to employees by for-profit employers.
In March the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius. These lawsuits challenge the Affordable Care Acts requirement that private businesses provide birth control health insurance coverage to their employees. The defendants claim that the ACA infringes upon their freedom of religion under the First Amendment.
While the Supreme Court heard oral arguments, HRC along with other civil rights and womens rights groups protested in a snowstorm with thousands of supporters. HRCs State Legislative Director Sarah Warbelow gave a rousing speech about the importance of religious freedoms in America, but emphasized that we cannot permit a vocal minority to use religion to control personal and individual choices. Every single person needs to have their rights protected, she declared, and religion cannot and should not be used to dictate our private lives.
The Supreme Courts decision could dramatically broaden employers ability to object to laws on religious freedom grounds and potentially restrict access to contraception for thousands of women employed by companies that share Hobby Lobbys religious objections. Such a decision could also have drastic implications for LGBT individuals. If corporations are people with a right to refuse to comply with health-care mandates based on religious beliefs, they may not only be permitted to refuse birth control coverage but types of coverage seen as promoting homosexuality or acknowledging the health needs of transgender individuals as well.
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hobby-lobby-ruling-expected-this-week
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)She is not very political. But as we drove passed a Hobby Lobby she told me not to shop there because of their stand against women.
edhopper
(33,651 posts)I think it will be 5/4 but which way, I am not sure,
The recent city council prayer ruling worries me.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)The ramifications could really change the course of history here.
And, like you, I can't predict with any certainty whatsoever.
rug
(82,333 posts)Looking down the road, if corporate religious rights are repudiated, the door is open to repudiate corporate political rights. There may be a crack in Citizens United if Hobby Lobby loses.
edhopper
(33,651 posts)Kennedy is a cypher.
LostOne4Ever
(9,292 posts)I would bet it ends up 5-4 against hobby lobby
Judges against HL:
Kagen
Sotomayor
Ginsburg
Breyer
Judges for HL:
Alito
Scalia
Thomas
Roberts
Swing vote:
Kennedy
longship
(40,416 posts)5-4 against HL, but with Kennedy affirming and Roberts against (and writing the finding)
okasha
(11,573 posts)have already voted with their plastic on this one. Daniel Smith, Dick Blick, Cheap Joe's and Jerry's Artarama all have far better selections and better prices, including the occasional.blow-out sale. Let your mouse do the walking.
WovenGems
(776 posts)One that denies medical knowledge is real. Thus no employee gets any coverage at all. Does the court want to play on a slippery slope? I hope not.