Free Exercise of Religion by Secular Organizations and Their Owners: Implications for the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Brougher, Cynthia

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Religious liberty;    Civil liberties;    Church and state;    Supreme Court;    Supreme Court decisions;   

RP-ID  :  R43329
RP-ID  :  R43329_2014Mar21

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report examines the constitutional and statutory protections related to free exercise of religion, including current Supreme Court interpretations, as well as judicial and legislative avoidance of defining the parameters of religious belief. It also discusses significant examples of existing religious exemptions in current law, such as employment nondiscrimination, health care, and public accommodations law. Finally, it analyzes recent federal judicial decisions that have considered the religious freedom rights of commercial entities whose owners have religious objections to the contraceptive coverage requirement.