Hobby Lobby Challenges ACA Contraceptive Coverage Mandate On Religious Grounds

Yesterday the Becket Fund announced yet another lawsuit challenging on free exercise grounds the contraception coverage mandate under the Affordable Care Act.  This time the plaintiffs are Hobby Lobby, a privately held chain of hobby supply stores that operates over 500 stores in 41 states with a total of over 13,000 employees, and Mardel, Inc., a chain of 35 bookstores in 7 states that sells Christian themed materials.  Both companies are owned by the Green family who are Evangelical Christians. The complaint (full text) in Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius, (WD OK, filed 9/12/2012), sets forth the Green family's religious beliefs opposing furnishing of coverage for "abortion-causing" contraceptive drugs and IUDs, such as Plan B and Ella. They do not object to providing coverage for other contraceptives.  The complaint sets out at length the manner in which the owners' Christian values are reflected in their operation and management of Hobby Lobby. The suit alleges violation of the 1st and 5th Amendments, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.