Supreme Court allows religious employers to restrict birth control coverage

The U.S. Supreme Court Wikimedia

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian liberal arts school Wheaton College Thursday in a debate over birth control access for their employees.

The court affirmed that the Obamacare mandate of free contraceptives does not apply to employers who demonstrate that the law violates their religious beliefs and is a burden, but added that these employers do not have to submit a form to have their insurers pay for the contraceptives.

Previously, religious employers who opposed the birth control mandate had to submit form EBSA-700 identifying their objections, and their insurer would pay for the coverage. The court's temporary injunction, however, relieves employers from this responsibility.

The unsigned judgment, which was a little over one page, maintained that women's access to birth control would not be restricted by the ruling.

"Nothing in this interim order affects the ability of the applicant's employees and students to obtain, without cost, the full range of FDA approved contraceptives," the order read.

The dissenting justices—Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg—strongly disagreed.

"Those who are bound by our decisions usually believe they can take us at our word," Sotomayor wrote in a 17-page dissent. "Not so today."

The Wheaton College decision follows the Court's ruling in Burwell vs Hobby Lobby, decided on Monday. In that case, the Court allowed the Christian craft store to opt-out of providing the morning-after pill and IUDs because they are a "closely-held" company – which the IRS defines as being majority-owned by five or few people. For other forms of birth control, the justices left the EBSA-700 form requirement intact, however.

"Wheaton is mistake," Sotomayor wrote. "Not as a matter of religious faith, in which it is undoubtedly sincere, but as a matter of law.

"Not every sincerely felt 'burden' is a 'substantial' one, and it is for courts, not litigants, to identify which are."

News
Finnish church used AI to conduct a worship service but it didn't feel the same
Finnish church used AI to conduct a worship service but it didn't feel the same

From Gutenberg and his printing press to The Salvation Army and the first motion picture, the Church has a long tradition of using new technology to spread the Gospel. Now, a congregation in Finland has taken the next step on this journey, using AI tools to organise and conduct a worship service.

First complete Chinese translation of the Bible sells at auction for £56,000
First complete Chinese translation of the Bible sells at auction for £56,000

The first complete Chinese version of the Bible has sold at auction for over £56,000

Canterbury Cathedral welcomes more modern-day pilgrims
Canterbury Cathedral welcomes more modern-day pilgrims

Canterbury Cathedral is hoping to offer "sanctuary and hope" to modern day pilgrims

Should Christians be more critical of Israel?
Should Christians be more critical of Israel?

Why do Christians support Israel and should there be limits to that support?