On Monday, 31 August 2015, for non-religious reasons, the Court of Justice in the District of Columbia declared that the “March for Life” pro-life group is not obliged to provide its employees with health insurance cover including contraceptives within the Obamacareframework on the grounds that this is contrary to the group’s beliefs.
“March for Life” focused on scientific, ethical and non-religious reasons to attack the Department of Health – the first case of its kind. To provide its employees with contraceptives would contravene the philosophy resolutely held by the association for over forty years, namely to defend life right from conception.
Note from Gènéthique:
It should be noted that, according to Obamacare (approved in 2010), an employer must provide employees with medical cover including contraceptives. However, in its decree dated 30 June 2014, the United States Supreme Court authorised Hobby Lobby chain stores not to provide contraceptives for employees as part of their medical cover, indicating that this would pose “a significant barrier to the free exercise of religion”(cf. Gènéthique du 25 mars 2014). Furthermore, whereas some religious organisations are exempt from this kind of obligation, others have had to take it on board(cf. Gènéthique du 27 juillet 2015).
The Washington Post (01/09/2015)