Family Life

12.28.12 | Sarah Harnisch

The Christian craft store chain says it will not comply with the court mandate that they offer abortive healthcare to all employees as of January 1st, or face a 1.3 million dollar daily fine. The store was not granted an exemption to the new HHS mandate in President Obama's Affordable Care Act, even though they are a religious business.

During the healthcare legislation fight, there was a big division about who should get exceptions. Churches have always been exempted, but other religious groups have not, especially for-profit groups like Christian businesses. Early on, the fight went back and forth, and the administration finally said religious colleges, hospitals, universities would be included to not have to profit abortive contraceptives, but not any for-profit Christian company.  
   
Hobby Lobby issued a statement Thursday. Their lead attorney, Kyle Duncan, said "our basic point is that the government can't put a company in a position of choosing between its faith and following the law."