06/28/2013 // West Palm Beach , Florida, US // JusticeNewsFlash // Justice News Flash // (press release)
Oklahoma City – A judge has ruled that Hobby Lobby will not be required to pay daily fines in connection with its failure to provide access to certain types of birth control through health care plans for employees. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton ruled Friday that the retailer and a sister company, the Mardel Christian bookstore chains, would not have to pay the $1.3 million in fines that were set to be imposed beginning Monday.
A hearing has reportedly been set for July 19 regarding the companies owners’ claims that providing access to some types of birth control in employee health care benefits would go against their religious beliefs.
Emily Hardman, spokeswoman for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a group representing the companies, is quoted by the AP as stating of the judge’s decision, “The opinion makes it very clear what is a valid religious belief and what is not.”
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