News Release: Hobby Lobby Decision ‘A Welcome Victory for Conscience Rights’

(Lansing)—Michigan Catholic Conference made the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court held in the Hobby Lobby case that closely-held corporations cannot be required, under federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act protections, to provide contraceptive coverage in employee health benefit plans:

“The justices’ ruling today sends a clear signal that the nation’s highest court respects the right for closely-held corporations to adhere to their personal religious beliefs while providing a public service. People do not give up their religious freedom when they open a family business. They should not have to check their values and religious convictions at the door when they enter the marketplace. The impact of the HHS mandate and the administration’s “accommodation” policy, however, still looms large for many Catholic and other religious organizations that do not meet the government test of a ‘religious employer.’ We express hope that non-profit cases related to the HHS mandate, such as that of the Michigan Catholic Conference and Little Sisters of the Poor, secure a favorable outcome from the federal courts in a manner that upholds and protects the first amendment right to religious liberty.”

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

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