By Bob Allen A federal appeals court ruled July 14 that requiring a religious nonprofit to opt out of mandated contraceptive coverage under Obamacare is not a substantial burden on religious exercise. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said…
White House expands religious objections to birth control
By Bob Allen The Obama administration released rules July 10 allowing “closely held” for-profit corporations to claim a religious objection to mandated coverage of contraceptives under Obamacare. Final regulations by the Department of Health and Human Services specify that in…
Catholic school gets win in Obamacare challenge
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court revived Notre Dame University’s religious objections to required coverage of contraceptives in Obamacare March 9, vacating a lower court’s decision favoring the federal government and ordering review in light of last summer’s landmark…
Court upholds religious accommodation in Obamacare
By Bob Allen A federal appeals court ruled Feb. 11 that accommodations in Obamacare are adequate to protect the religious freedom rights of employers who do not qualify for exemptions allowed for certain religious organizations but object to contraception coverage…
Ebola, race, marriage and Obamacare top stories in 2014
By Bob Allen Following is a summary of some of the year’s major headlines. Baptists and race. Will Baptists remember 2014 as a sea change in race relations? Fifty years after the civil rights movement and nearly 20 years after…
Appeals court hears GuideStone challenge to Obamacare
By Bob Allen GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention had a day in court Dec. 8, arguing before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver that required coverage of contraceptives under Obamacare substantially burdens its religious…
Obamacare changes the way faith-based hospitals deliver care
By Bob Allen Whether most Americans like it or not, the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — is now the law, and faith-based health care providers say it’s changing the way hospitals view patient care. A new…
SBC agencies support GuideStone lawsuit in contraceptive case
By Bob Allen Three sister Southern Baptist Convention entities filed a brief May 27 supporting GuideStone Financial Resources’ objection to being forced to indirectly provide what they regard as abortion-inducing drugs under Obamacare. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ethics and…
Faith leaders say Medicaid expansion moral issue
By Bob Allen Faith leaders urged voter awareness in 24 states that are refusing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in a conference call with reporters May 29. “History has not been kind to governors who stand in…