Title: The Hobby Lobby Case: Contraception and Religious Freedom
Headings: The Hobby Lobby Case: Contraception and Religious Freedom
The Hobby Lobby Case: Contraception and Religious Freedom
How Did this Case Reach the Supreme Court?
What Did the Supreme Court Decide?
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What is the Practical Effect of the Hobby Lobby Case?
Employee Perspective
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Content: Below, you’ll find an explanation of the background behind the Hobby Lobby case, its implications with regard to contraception and religious freedom, the Court’s decision, and how the it affects both employers and employees. How Did this Case Reach the Supreme Court? The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010, mandated that health insurance cover birth control. One of the requirements was that employers must pay for insurance that will cover birth control for their employees. Some of these employers, such as Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corporation, were strongly opposed to birth control, in particular the "morning after" pill, which prevents implantation of a fertilized egg. Before the ACA, another famous Supreme Court case permitted the government to infringe on religious freedom if it was an incidental effect, such as part of a religious practice is against criminal law. This case, Employment Division v. Smith, involved two members of the Native American Church who used peyote as part of a religious ceremony and were dismissed from their employer for drug use. After this decision, religious rights lobbyists convinced Congress to pass the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA). This Act ensured the government wouldn't burden people's ability to exercise their religion unless done to advance a compelling government interest. In 2010, the Supreme Court decided in the Citizens United case that corporations can spend their money on campaigns like a private citizen.