WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its final rule ensuring a woman’s right to access contraception, regardless of her employers’ religious beliefs in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Hobby Lobby. Following the publishing of this rule, Rabbi Jack Moline, executive director of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“I am encouraged by the Obama administration’s continued work to protect the rights of women to make their own personal healthcare decisions, regardless of the religious beliefs of their employers. The constraints put in place by the Supreme Court in last year’s Hobby Lobby decision make this effort necessary. However, I believe that a more narrow definition of “closely held corporation” would have made for a better rule. Too much weight is given to the fanciful notion that a for-profit corporation is able to have a religious identity. The rights of too many women are dependent on the willingness of their employer to fill out a form.
“Once again we are reminded of the urgent need for Congress to pass legislation to rectify the dire mistake the Supreme Court made in Hobby Lobby. The religious beliefs of some should never dictate the rights of others, and the rights of bosses should never supplant the rights of their employees. Religious freedom is not defined by who holds the purse strings. I urge Congress to set us back on the correct Constitutional course.”
Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, Interfaith Alliance brings together members from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition to protect faith and freedom. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.