Posted on 12/28/2012 4:20:05 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o
An attorney for Hobby Lobby Stores said Thursday that the arts and crafts chain plans to defy a federal mandate requiring it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill, despite risking potential fines of up to $1.3 million per day.
Hobby Lobby and religious book-seller Mardel, which are owned by the same conservative Christian family, are suing to block part of the federal health care law that requires employee health-care plans to provide insurance coverage for the morning-after pill and similar emergency contraception pills.
The companies claim the mandate violates the religious beliefs of their owners. They say the morning-after pill is tantamount to abortion because it can prevent a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in a woman's womb.
On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor denied the companies' request for an injunction while their lawsuit is pending, saying the stores failed to satisfy the demanding legal standard for blocking the requirement on an emergency basis. She said the companies may still challenge the regulations in the lower courts.
Kyle Duncan, who is representing Hobby Lobby on behalf of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said in a statement posted on the group's website Thursday that Hobby Lobby doesn't intend to offer its employees insurance that would cover the drug while its lawsuit is pending.
"The company will continue to provide health insurance to all qualified employees," Duncan said. "To remain true to their faith, it is not their intention, as a company, to pay for abortion-inducing drugs."
In ruling against the companies last month, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton said churches and other religious organizations have been granted constitutional protection from the birth-control provisions but that "Hobby Lobby and Mardel are not religious organizations."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I’ve done painting like that; spraying droplets of water, before spraying the paint. I usually did a base coat of one color, then did the spritzing thing with a contrast, usually gold or silver, because I did the items for a Christmas fair.
Mmmmm....sounds pretty.
Gorgeous! And now IS the time to get the ornaments pretty inexpensively!
We decorated paper-mache deer, angels and cherubs. One of my favorites was a teal deer with gold over it. It was gorgeous!
Teal and gold-—beautiful.
Placemark and I’ve been thinking of you. While struggling through the flu!
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