Hobby Lobby in Court over Affordable Care Act
By: CNN
Updated: November 2, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY -- It employs thousands of workers, spanning hundreds of stores, but since its founding by David Green and his family Hobby lobby has never shied away from its religious principals.
"This is a family that loses $100 million a year thereabout, by closing on Sundays," said Kyle Duncan, Hobby Lobby's attorney.
The company currently covers most prescription contraceptives, but the Green family opposes a new mandate to provide employees access to the morning after birth control pill.
"All they're asking for is a narrow exemption from the law that doesn't provide drugs they believe cause abortions, " said Duncan.
In federal court, the government argued the company does not have the same religious protection as individuals. On the flip side, customers interviewed at a Hobby Lobby store sided with the retail chain.
"They have a right to their opinion. And i agree with it."
"I hate it when they impose things on people or companies or what have you."
"The federal government shouldn't be telling businesses how to run their business with their health care."
"Our basic point is the government can't put a company in the position of choosing between its faith and following the law," added Duncan.
Whatever the judge decides, the case could set a precedent that goes beyond the arts-and-crafts giant.
"The implications of this decision could be important because it would recognize people's religious liberty to resist the government from forcing them to cover services that are against their conscience."
The judge has said he will deliver a ruling as soon as possible since the health care mandate is to take effect January first.
"This is a family that loses $100 million a year thereabout, by closing on Sundays," said Kyle Duncan, Hobby Lobby's attorney.
The company currently covers most prescription contraceptives, but the Green family opposes a new mandate to provide employees access to the morning after birth control pill.
"All they're asking for is a narrow exemption from the law that doesn't provide drugs they believe cause abortions, " said Duncan.
In federal court, the government argued the company does not have the same religious protection as individuals. On the flip side, customers interviewed at a Hobby Lobby store sided with the retail chain.
"They have a right to their opinion. And i agree with it."
"I hate it when they impose things on people or companies or what have you."
"The federal government shouldn't be telling businesses how to run their business with their health care."
"Our basic point is the government can't put a company in the position of choosing between its faith and following the law," added Duncan.
Whatever the judge decides, the case could set a precedent that goes beyond the arts-and-crafts giant.
"The implications of this decision could be important because it would recognize people's religious liberty to resist the government from forcing them to cover services that are against their conscience."
The judge has said he will deliver a ruling as soon as possible since the health care mandate is to take effect January first.
