Supreme Court Affirms Nation’s Commitment to Religious Liberty

Independence Law Center hails victory for Lancaster company Conestoga Wood Specialties in abortifacient mandate case

(HARRISBURG, PA) – Today the United States Supreme Court affirmed our nation’s historic understanding of religious liberty by providing an exception to the abortifacient mandate that had been handed down by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the Affordable Care Act.

“This decision is a victory for religious believers from all faith traditions, and for our country as a whole. No one should be forced to violate their conscience in order to operate a business in America,” said Randall Wenger, Chief Counsel of the Independence Law Center.

The mandate requires employers to pay for drugs to which many Americans morally object. The department made no accommodation whatsoever for businesses closely-held by people of deep religious conviction, such as Conestoga Wood Specialties of Lancaster County and Hobby Lobby of Oklahoma. The confiscatory fines proposed by the administration threatened to drive those who objected to the mandate out of business ownership entirely.

“Today’s ruling will permit families like the Hahns of Conestoga Wood Specialties to continue running their businesses in accordance with their values,” said Attorney Charles W. Proctor, III. “No one should have to choose between their faith and full participation in the life of our society. Today’s decision affirms this basic principle of a free society.”

Wenger added, “This case isn’t simply about contraception. Instead, if government could have forced Americans to violate their most deeply held convictions, no American, whatever their convictions, would have been free.”

Attorneys Wenger and Proctor along with attorneys for the Alliance Defending Freedom represent the Hahns and Conestoga Wood. The Independence Law Center is a non-profit law center providing representation in cases involving religious liberty.

Get to know the Hahn family and why their petition to the U.S. Supreme Court is so important.

What happens after the case?

Read the full opinion.