ext_90803 ([identity profile] badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] talkpolitics2012-11-28 05:32 pm
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Corporate Religion

A few cases involving the mandates on employers have come down in the last week, which raise some interesting issues:

* In Tyndale House Publishers v. Sebelius, the Washington, DC district court granted an injunction on penalties stemming from the publishing house's refusal to offer contraceptive coverage, citing religious freedom. Of the key findings from the ruling, it was held that even the indirect burden is enough to cause a religious liberty issue, and that the government lacked a compelling interest in handing down the mandate.

* In Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius, an Oklahoma district court ruled in favor of the federal government in part because the ruling differentiated between for-profit and religious corporations, making a distinction between organizations involved in worship and organizations that, at least according to this judge, are for-profit or simply religiously-associated.

We now have 4 lower court rulings in play right now regarding the contraception mandate. All four involved for-profit institutions, only Hobby Lobby ruling in favor of the government on the issue, and none of this has anything to do with the Liberty University case that just made it back to the 4th Circuit.

Why shouldn't corporate entities have religious freedom rights? Especially in the case of places like Hobby Lobby, who outright state that '[T]he foundation of our business has been, and will continue to be strong values, and honoring the Lord in a manner consistent with Biblical principles." Given the first amendment, hasn't the government clearly overstepped their bounds?

[identity profile] dexeron.livejournal.com 2012-11-29 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
It seems to me like that would be a fiscally responsible position to take: the returns in terms of savings on entitlements later could be much greater than the minimal outlay required to provide the pills. Seems like a great savings in government spending! I'd assume fiscal conservatives would be all in favor of it, right? ;)

[identity profile] yes-justice.livejournal.com 2012-11-29 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Its worked for me exactly once. (geezer_also) agreed with that logic. I have not had much success with others, sadly.

It really is important for a societies females to have reproductive options.

[identity profile] dexeron.livejournal.com 2012-11-29 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
All the evidence shows that funding of reproductive options leads to positive outcomes, and reduced spending in the long term. Coincidentally, evidence shows that it's also one of the best ways to reduce the number of abortions, the rallying cry of the religious right.

That the people so ostensibly in favor of reducing things like spending and abortions are so completely unwilling to even consider the practical considerations lays bare the truth about whether this really has anything to do with anything other than morality policing.