Experts Weigh in on Upcoming Hobby Lobby Decision

"The Supreme Court is set to make a decision in the famous Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby case by June 30," writes Claire Healey, "and religious employers are poised to see whether they will be allowed an exemption for their beliefs."

Adele Keim of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Heritage policy analyst Sarah Torre discussed the implications of the HHS mandate and the case at a Thursday event co-hosted by the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute and the Heritage Foundation.

Keim began the discussion by describing the background of the Hobby Lobby case. David and Barbara Green, the founders of the Hobby Lobby store chain, are devout Christians who object to the mandate because of its provision for companies to include the morning-after pill in the healthcare plans.

"Religious liberty is a human right, and all people deserve it," Keim said.

Keim explained that those against the HHS mandate are winning. In for-profit cases, courts have voted 40 times to protect religious liberty, while voting for the mandate only six times. At the non-profit level, 23 injunctions have been granted, while only five were denied. 

Rep. Lummis argued "there are many reasons to repeal this law, reform this law, replace this law." Sarah Torre "described other legislation bolstering Hobby Lobby's case, especially the Religious Freedom Restoration Act..."