Title: Natural Law: Definition and Application
Headings: Natural Law: Definition and Application
Natural Law: Definition and Application
Key Takeaways: Natural Law
What Is Natural Law?
Natural Law and Self Defense
Natural Rights vs. Human Rights
Natural Law in the US Legal System
Natural Law in the Foundations of American Justice
Natural Law in Practice: Hobby Lobby vs. Obamacare
Sources and Further Reference

Content: In 2012, the Greens sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, claiming that the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employment-based group health care plans cover contraception violated the Free Exercise of Religion Clause of the First Amendment and the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), that “ensures that interests in religious freedom are protected.” Under the Affordable Care Act, Hobby Lobby faced significant fines if its employee health care plan failed to pay for contraceptive services. In considering the case, the Supreme Court was asked to decide if the RFRA allowed closely held, for-profit companies to refuse to provide its employees with health insurance coverage for contraception based on the religious objections of the company’s owners. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that by forcing religion-based companies to fund what they consider the immoral act of abortion, the Affordable Care Act placed an unconstitutionally “substantial burden” on those companies. The court further ruled that an existing provision in the Affordable Care Act exempting non-profit religious organizations from providing contraception coverage should also apply to for-profit corporations such as Hobby Lobby. The landmark Hobby Lobby decision marked the first time the Supreme Court had recognized and upheld a for-profit corporation’s natural law claim of protection based on a religious belief. Sources and Further Reference
“ Natural Law .” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
“ The Natural Law Tradition in Ethics .” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2002-2019)
“Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 .”