Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

(Image Credit: RJ Rixon)

Oral arguments in the high-profile  Supreme Court case Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc began on March 25th, 2014. Hobby Lobby is challenging new health insurance requirements that require them to cover birth control to their employees. The lawsuit states:

"(t)he Green family's religious beliefs forbid them from participating in, providing access to, paying for, training others to engage in, or otherwise supporting abortion-causing drugs and devices."

This lawsuit has caused considerable controversy, on both the religious and corporate front. As described below, a Supreme Court ruling that corporations have the right to religion has the potential to pierce the corporate veil. Further, there is considerable concern that a ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby would allow an employer's religious beliefs to dictate an employee's contraception options: and possibly other health care decisions, such as organ transplants and blood transfusions.

     

     (Image Credit:D Street Politics)          (Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The info graphic below outlines the possible social implications if the Supreme Court rules in Hobby Lobby's favor.

Further reading on the case:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-03/hobby-lobby-case-does-god-hate-obamacare

http://washingtonjewishweek.com/11435/justices-critique-hobby-lobby-arguments-2/