The billionaire founder of Domino's Pizza has won a victory in court on his recent attempt to thwart the part of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, that requires employers to provide contraceptive and reproductive health services to their employees, on the grounds that it violates his religious beliefs. One Federal Judge agrees with Thomas Monaghan's claim.
This issue may seem black or white, depending upon which side of the coin you are on. Small business owners argue that their religious freedoms are being imposed upon, while workers claim that they are having religious beliefs forced upon them in the form of a restriction from a health care benefit that others are getting. The question is, do business owners have the right to force employees into following the same religious guidelines that they do by denying certain types of medical care?
Monaghan filed the claim last month on behalf of himself and Domino's Farms Corporation. Monaghan has sold most of his stake in Domino's Pizza, is no longer affiliated with the running of the company, and this lawsuit does not represent them. Domino's Farms Corporation is a property management company.
Judge Larence Zatkoff said in his order late Sunday that Monaghan had shown that "abiding by the mandate will substantially burden his exercise of religion." So, will this part of the Obamacare bill have to be taken out, or will employers get a choice? What about those who want to receive contraceptive coverage? Will there be a private benefit that they will have to pay for themselves if their employer's religious beliefs conflict with contraception?
Photo: Fibonacci Blue on Flickr.com
Gabriel Legend covers current events for Gather News, and writes horror fiction. If you like an article from Gabriel please share it using the social media links below. Follow Gabriel Legend on Twitter (@GabeLegend).
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Comments: 22
He's locking the horny devils in his basement after their shift?
Prevents the sale of contraceptives to them at gunpoint?
Outfits them with chastity belts?
What force? Damn it, my boss won't shell out $2 for the morning after and my boyfriend can't afford a condom, there's no choice for me but the convent and a life of contemplation?
Who are you kidding? The only force is falling on the Christian.
Jay you stated the issue very well.
jay o Jan 3, 2013, 6:05am EST
What force?
He's locking the horny devils in his basement after their shift?
Prevents the sale of contraceptives to them at gunpoint?
Outfits them with chastity belts?
What force? Damn it, my boss won't shell out $2 for the morning after and my boyfriend can't afford a condom, there's no choice for me but the convent and a life of contemplation?
Who are you kidding? The only force is falling on the Christian.
Caught it...
No, they should not have that right just because they have different religious beliefs. No one should be denied medical care because of religious beliefs.
Two of the major stockholders for Fox News are Muslims. Does that mean that the people on Fox News should not be allowed to eat pork?
If you hold yourself out to be a BUSINESS, not a cult, employees have the legitimate expectation that it will be a business, not a cult.
Yeah, I thought it was known for making and selling relatively-crappy pizza, not for being a church of any of kind of religious organization.
"Two of the major stockholders for Fox News are Muslims. Does that mean that the people on Fox News should not be allowed to eat pork?"
I'll bet that many of the same people insisting on these business owners' right to impose their religious beliefs on their employees only mean their conservative Christian (aka American Taliban) religious beliefs. And in many cases are the same people ranting about "creeping sharia", opposing the building of mosques, whining and complaining about efforts to stop First Amendment violations like school prayer, etc.
Companies cannot be baptized, partake of sacraments, or attend church. Only individual human beings can do those things.
Corporations are Christians, my friend. ;-)
And He replied, 'Then render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and render unto the Lord that which is the Lord's.'
-hmmmm? IMHO that is Separation of Church and State.
If it is against his religion then don't use it or take it. I would love to get him on tape sayin gif he has ever used anytype, b.c. pills, condoms.....
Don't get me wrong, I'm against needless governemnt spending, but I don't think they should delegate responsibilites when they can't even take care of their own.