While many companies find President Obama’s health-care law helpful when it comes to being provided with contraceptives, a Christian-owned craft supply chain feels differently.
Hobby Lobby has been challenging Obamacare in the Supreme Court in regards to women’s rights.
The company wants to be exempt from a provision that requires companies to cover the cost of all FDA-approved contraceptives in their employees’ health plans.
Perhaps Hobby Lobby should take a different look at the subject. Companies provide health coverage to their employees in order to get medical care.
It is entirely an individual’s decision to do what one wants with the health care his or her company provides.
AP Photo / Ed Andrieski:
Hobby Lobby, a Christian-owned craft store. The spokesperson for Hobby Lobby said the company wants to be exempt from a provision that requires companies to cover the cost of all FDA-approved contraceptives in their employees’ health plans.
Hobby Lobby says certain forms of birth control are not in line with its religious beliefs. Since the company believes they have the right to be exempt from a federal law, there has been quite a bit of outrage about the subject over social media for the past week.
People have posted status like “SHAME on hobby lobby for trying to use religion to deny rights to women,” and, “Will not go to Hobby Lobby ever again due to their views on religion and birth control!!”
According to a Huffington Post article, the Supreme Court is having trouble ruling on the case because it is a religious matter. When it comes to religious beliefs, there tends to be disputes that cause public outrage. There will be a lot of discussion on whether or not companies’ religious beliefs should exempt them from federal law.
Hobby Lobby employees should not be denied benefits on their healthcare. Whether the employees have the same religious beliefs as the owners or not, every one of them are entitled employee benefits.
In addition, it’s hard to imagine a company having the right to force their religious beliefs on employees, not to mention birth control, is covered by health care insurance.
According to the Huffington Post article, in response to a Facebook post indicating a user’s disagreement on the subject, Hobby Lobby responded, “They’re not asking the Court to grant them the permission to do so. They’re asking the Court to respect their personal rights to run their business in line with their deeply held religious convictions.”
Hobby Lobby believes the U.S. government is wrong for providing its employees with health insurance in which they believe violates its owners’ religious beliefs by forcing them to cover the cost of contraception. It is government officials’ decision in the end they will have to follow.
Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com.