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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Robyn Shepherd, 212-519-7829 or 549-2666; media@aclu.org

Supreme Court Accepts Challenge to Contraception Coverage Rule

WASHINGTON

The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it will hear a challenge from an Oklahoma-based craft supply chain and a Pennsylvania furniture-making company to a federal law that requires employers to provide coverage for contraception in their employee health plans.

The case the Court accepted is one of more than 40 in the country in which a for-profit business argues that it should not have to comply with the federal rule on the grounds that it violates the religious beliefs of the business and its owners. There are additional cases brought by non-profit organizations challenging the rule as well.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend-of-the-court brief earlier in the case, and in dozens of others, supporting the rule.

"Everyone has a right to their religious beliefs, but religious freedom does not include the right to impose your beliefs on others," said Louise Melling, deputy legal director of the ACLU. "It does not mean that businesses can refuse to comply with the law based on their religious beliefs, particularly where that means discriminating against their employees."

A media call featuring spokespeople from the ACLU, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the National Women's Law Center will be held at this afternoon. Details to come in a separate advisory as soon as possible.

For more information on the cases challenging the federal contraceptive coverage mandate go to www.aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/challenges-federal-contraceptive-cove....

The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

(212) 549-2666