Written by Don Byrd
Before this month is over, the U.S. Supreme Court will release its much-anticipated decision in the Hobby Lobby case, the challenge on religious liberty grounds to the constitutionality of the contraception coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act. I will be watching closely not just for how they rule on the specific question, but how they interpret and apply the federal law in question, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Baptist Joint Committee chaired a diverse coalition of religious and civil liberty advocates, in pushing for RFRA, which President Clinton signed into law in 1993.
While we wait for the Supreme Court to rule, possibly on the scope and meaning of the law, check out the BJC’s outstanding new RFRA resource page. There, you can find links to a special BJC publication on RFRA after 20 years, a timeline on the law’s creation and impact, videos from last year’s BJC Symposium on RFRA, and articles from Brent Walker and Holly Hollman regarding RFRA as it pertains to the contraception mandate.
Take a look! It offers helpful information on RFRA that will give you context on the law as the Hobby Lobby discussion unfolds, and going forward as the law continues to have an impact.
Also, if you want to be first on your block to receive the news of the Hobby Lobby decision, follow me on Twitter – @BJCblog. The Court is scheduled to release opinions on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and possibly Monday next week.
