WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court is considering whether for-profit businesses can be exempted from a contraceptive mandate in the health-care law because of the owners’ religious views.
The law already exempts houses of worship from the requirement, but two brothers who own businesses in Ohio argue they shouldn’t have to comply. The brothers, Francis and Philip Gilardi, say the requirement would force them to violate their Roman Catholic religious beliefs and moral values by providing contraceptives such as the Plan B pill for their employees.
At a hearing Tuesday, Judge Harry Edwards was skeptical of the Gilardis’ argument. He told their lawyer, Francis Manion, that sometimes religious freedom has to yield to the greater good. Edwards stressed that the Giraldis’ companies, Freshway Foods and Freshway Logistics of Sidney, Ohio, are not religious groups. “I don’t know see how the government doesn’t prevail,” said Edwards, who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter.
The other two judges on the panel didn’t indicate how they are leaning in the argument, but they had more pointed questions for Justice Department lawyer Alisa Klein than they did for Manion.
Judge Janice Rogers Brown, an appointee of President George W. Bush, asked Klein whether the government is asking the Giraldis to give up their constitutional rights. Klein said the Giraldis weren’t making a constitutional claim, but rather seeking an injunction under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Brown asked Klein whether she’s saying that for religiously observant owners of corporations there is no right to free exercise of religion.
“There is no substantial burden on shareholders,” Klein responded, adding that it is the corporation that has to meet the obligation.
Front Section, Pages 3 on 09/25/2013