Hobby Lobby Takes Morning-After Pill Argument To U.S. Supreme Court

The Associated-Press is reporting that lawyers for Hobby Lobby have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the company's lawsuit against a mandate that's part of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare.

The Oklahoma City-based retailer and its sister company, Mardel Christian bookstore, are arguing the federal health care law's requirement that coverage include access to the morning-after pill restricts freedom of religion.

Temecula is home to a Hobby Lobby at 26443 Ynez Road.

The Green family, which owns Hobby Lobby and Mardel, "believes life begins at conception, and lawyers for the Greens say following the provisions of the new federal health care law would either violate their religious beliefs or cost them millions of dollars in fines," The AP reported.

Morning-after pills can prevent pregnancy but they don't end a pregnancy that has implanted, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

"Conception typically doesn't occur immediately after sex," according to the healthcare provider's website. "Instead, it may happen up to several days later.

"As a result, using emergency contraception soon after unprotected sex isn't too late to prevent pregnancy," the Mayo website continues.

According to The AP report, "the Greens object to birth control methods that can prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus."

In addition to the morning-after pill, the Greens also object to similar emergency birth control methods and intrauterine devices, The AP reported.

According to the Hobby Lobby website, the company places Christian values high, stating it is "honoring the Lord" in all it does "by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles."

The company's website goes on to state, "We believe that it is by God's grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, and we trust Him for our future."

In July, a U.S. District Judge granted Hobby Lobby/Mardel Christian a temporary exemption from the health care law, but in September the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed a notice in federal court to appeal the decision.