Hobby Lobby and the Supreme Court decision to come

Earlier this year the Supreme court heard oral arguments in the Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius case.

The suit brought forth by the arts and crafts store, owned by the Green family, has taken center stage. The family is firm in its faith and believes that being required to cover the full list of contraceptives, some considered abortifacient, mandated by the Affordable Care Act breeches its religious liberty.

Joshua Hawley, professor of constitutional law at the University of Missouri and an attorney representing Hobby Lobby in the Supreme Court decision, spoke in Cape Girardeau recently about the case.

Maybe one of the most startling points by Hawley was the fines Hobby Lobby would face by not complying with the federal government mandate vs. not offering health insurance to employees. He said Hobby Lobby would be required to pay fines up to $470 million per year or $100 per day per person. If Hobby Lobby would drop coverage, Hawley said the fine would be $20 million per year.

Here you have a company, one begun by a family whose faith is central to how it lives, that wants to provide health insurance for its employees. It does not object to 16 out of 20 FDA-approved contraceptives, according to Hawley. There are only four, which it considers an abortifacient, that it objects to.

Opponents say Hobby Lobby doesn't have a right to refuse coverage of drugs and devices ending human life. Some say that because Hobby Lobby is not a religious organization an exemption is not acceptable.

This is simply wrong.

For many people, faith in God is what drives choices. It's their standard for treating others. The standard for their character. Saying Hobby Lobby is not a religious organization and therefore should be required to violate its owners' conscience, goes against the First Amendment.

Others will say the company should pay the fine. Why should this company be put at a disadvantage in the marketplace due to this issue? Sure, Hobby Lobby could drop coverage and save money. But for the men and women who work for the stores, losing insurance can be a hardship. There is no guarantee of qualification for government-subsizided insurance.

We applaud Hobby Lobby. It could have taken the "easy road" and dropped coverage or violated its beliefs. But its character comes first. Having a willingness to stand up for what it believes in is refreshing.

We pray the Supreme Court comes down on the side of Hobby Lobby. Religious liberty still matters to many. We hope the justices still believe this to be true.