By Carol  McCracken  (Post # 1,744)

The ongoing War on Women and their rights to make their own reproductive decisions, reached the hallowed courtroom of the Supreme Court yesterday. That’s when oral arguments were heard by attorneys for the plaintiffs as well as the government.  The two plaintiffs, privately held companies with Christian owners, sued the government for requiring them to supply women with insurance that coverz contraceptives causing abortions through the Affordable Care Act.  This is in conflict with their religious beliefs according to the two plaintiffs. Hobby Lobby is a chain of over 500 stores whose headquarters is based in Oklahoma.  The Wood Care business is owned by a Mennonite family.

According to an article in today’s NEW YORK TIMES, by Adam Liptak: “Such a ruling (in favor of the plaintiffs) would echo the court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United, which recognized free speech rights for corporations.”  Do corporations have speech rights and do they have religious beliefs?

“These are landmark cases and if the Court rules the wrong way, it could represent a serious threat to a women’s right to make decisions about her health care.   Corporations aren’t people  – they don’t have religious beliefs and the boss where you work shouldn’t get to decide whether or not you can have access to birth control.  Giving secular, for-profit corporations the power to deny access to birth control would be a big step backwards,” according to a press release issued yesterday by US Congresswoman Chellie Pingree’s office.