Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Proposed bill aims to thwart Hobby Lobby court decision

Proposed bill aims to thwart Hobby Lobby court decision

Last updated on: July 9, 2014 at 10:29 pm by CNA Daily News

Proposed bill aims to thwart Hobby Lobby court decision 2014-07-09T22:29:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Jul 9, 2014 / 04:29 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Thirty-five U.S. Senators have introduced legislation to strip religious freedom protections from businesses with objections to mandatory insurance coverage for contraceptives and abortifacient drugs.

The senators are backed by both the White House and abortion rights groups.

The bill summary objected that the Supreme Court allows some corporations to “get out of complying with the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage requirement if they have religious beliefs against birth control.”

The summary, from bill co-sponsor Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), claims that the bill would “stop employers from being able to impose their religious beliefs on their employees.”

“The 13,000 Hobby Lobby employees took a job to work at an arts and crafts store, not a church or synagogue,” Murray wrote.

The Supreme Court on June 30 ruled that federal religious freedom protections required the Obama administration to accommodate the objections of the owners of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods Services.

The two closely-held businesses, run by Protestant and Mennonite owners, objected to aspects of a Department of Health and Human Services rule that require them to provide coverage for drugs that they believe can cause abortions.

The mandate’s requirement to cover sterilization procedures and contraceptive drugs, including abortifacients, is particularly burdensome on Catholic businesses and organizations.

Many of these organizations, along with the U.S. bishops, welcomed the court’s 5-4 decision in favor of Hobby Lobby in hopes it would strengthen their religious freedom and protect them from the massive fines intended to penalize non-compliance.

However, the new bill’s lead co-sponsors, Murray and Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), contended that the decision limited women’s health care options.

The new bill is called the Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act.

“My common-sense proposal will keep women's private health decisions out of corporate board rooms, because your boss shouldn't be able to dictate what is best for you and your family,” Udall said July 9.

Murray said that “after five justices decided last week that an employer's personal views can interfere with women's access to essential health services, we in Congress need to act quickly to right this wrong.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said he would bring the bill to a vote next week. All 35 co-sponsors of the Senate bill are Democrats.

The New York Times reports that the bill was drafted in consultation with the Obama administration.

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said she will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. She said sixty members of Congress have said they will co-sponsor the bill, ABC News reports.

The bill is supported by NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political arm of the largest abortion provider in the U.S.

The U.S. bishops on June 30 said the Hobby Lobby decision recognized “that Americans can continue to follow their faith when they run a family business.”

“Now is the time to redouble our efforts to build a culture that fully respects religious freedom,” they said, noting that the court has not yet decided whether federal religious freedom protections apply to Catholic charities, hospitals or schools.

“We continue to hope that these great ministries of service, like the Little Sisters of the Poor and so many others, will prevail in their cases as well.”

The Hobby Lobby decision, which benefitted non-Catholic Christians, prompted outpourings of anti-Catholic sentiment in part because the five justices in the majority identify as Catholics.

Previous Post

July 9, 2014

Papal delegation to investigate Paraguayan diocese

Next Post

July 10, 2014 St Louis archdiocese settles 'false' abuse claim

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Where did Moses strike a rock and water came out?

Select your answer to see how you score.

At Jordan At Kadesh At Horeb At Marah