Despite today’s Supreme Court ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the fight against the coercive HHS mandate is far from over.
More than 300 other family businesses, schools, and religious organizations still must decide whether to violate their beliefs or face government penalties. Charitable organizations such as Little Sisters of the Poor and Mother Angelica’s Eternal Word Television Network (which is currently petitioning the Supreme Court for emergency relief from the mandate) will continue challenging the rule’s application to non-profit plaintiffs.
Nor is this mandate the only part of Obamacare that threatens the ability of Americans to purchase health care that aligns with their values. The health care law has given broad authority to bureaucrats to decide what insurance companies must cover, employers must provide and individuals must purchase. Government officials have the power to impose additional and even more onerous mandates for other controversial healthcare coverage with just the stroke of a pen.
To truly protect religious freedom and individual liberty, Obamacare must be stopped. Following today’s decision, Congress should continue working to implement patient-centered health reform that increases choice and respects Americans’ values and conscience rights.
UPDATE: This afternoon, the Eleventh Circuit issued an emergency stay against the HHS mandate for Eternal Word Television Network. Without that stay, the religious broadcasting organization would have had to comply with the coercive rule or face crippling fines by tomorrow (July 1).
