This 2014 decision is the most recent ruling by the Supreme Court testing the bounds of the free exercise of religion - specifically the meaning of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Here's the question presented to the court:
- Does the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 allow a for-profit
company to deny its employees health coverage of contraception to which
the employees would otherwise be entitled based on the religious
objections of the company’s owners?
And here's the holding in the case:
- As applied to closely held corporations, the regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services requiring employers to provide their female employees with no-cost access to contraception violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
It was a 5-4 decision - meaning there was disagreement over the outcome.
For detail:
- Scotusblog: Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
- Click here for the opinion.
- Wikipedia: Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
- Wikipedia: Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
