How Does the Abortion Battle Affect Freedom of Religion?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns religious freedom. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that Americans are free to practice their religion. Freedom of religion is called the First Freedom because it comes first in the First Amendment. This amendment forbids Congress from promoting one religion over any other religion and from restricting the right of individuals to practice their religion.

The state of California was sued by four churches because the State tried to force them to provide health care to cover abortion services. Kelsey Dallas at The Deseret News reported on the recent outcome of the cases. 

The churches – Skyline Wesleyan Church near San Diego, Foothill Church in Glendora, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino and Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch – successfully fought a state policy requiring employers to cover abortion in employee health plans. They argued the requirement violated religious freedom protections.

In two separate cases, judges ruled against California officials, deciding that churches with faith-based objections to elective abortion procedures should receive a religious exemption from the coverage rules.

Dallas reported that the legal battles were about a state policy in California. However, they were similar to several lawsuits challenging the Affordable Care Act’s birth control mandate. She wrote, “Various religious organizations spent years in court fighting the act’s requirement that most employers cover birth control in employee health plans.” Ultimately, the Supreme Court “ruled in favor of the faith-based companies and nonprofits multiple times.”

Dallas also wrote about how red states differ from blue states deal with the requirement for most employers to cover elective abortions. “In blue states, faith groups are finding ways to challenge laws expanding access to abortion by, for example, working to limit the use of abortion pills.” Meanwhile, religious organizations in red states “have argued that abortion bans violate religious freedom protections.”