I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m leaning towards the Supreme Court, yet again, not doing their job. My guess, and I could very well be wrong, is that they rule in favor of Hobby Lobby, but pull a Bush v Gore cop out – meaning that the enforcers of the law of the land will make their ruling extremely narrow.
But one of my biggest problems with this case is that it’s not based on facts. Hobby Lobby doesn’t want to cover emergency contraceptives like Plan B, Ella and IUDs. Hobby Lobby says their “religious beliefs prohibit them from providing health coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices that end human life after conception.”
Um… okay… but… Plan B, Ella and IUDs don’t end life after conception. Plan B and Ella delay ovulation. If you’ve already ovulated when you take them they won’t work. No egg = no pregnancy. The IUD functions by affecting sperms movements so the sperm can’t join with an egg. Hormonal IUDs prevent ovulation. Everybody with me? Hobby Lobby’s reason for denying these contraceptives is medically and scientifically wrong. They base their case on what they “believe” not facts. Kinda scary, no? What if someone “believes” blood pressure medicine causes abortions and don’t want to cover them in their health plan? Should the SCOTUS hear that case? Based on this case, they should.
I’ll update this post when the ruling comes down. Until then… share your thoughts on this case.
UPDATE: Supreme Court rules that closely held corporations cannot be required to provide contraception coverage. Win for Hobby Lobby. Get ready for employers denying blood transfusions and vaccines.
Update/Update: I was correct. The court’s ruling was extremely narrow, applying only to women’s health. Anyone surprised? Get ready for corporations to convert to religious beliefs. Science and women lost today. And the court is kidding itself if it thinks this doesn’t set precedent, because it does.