The world’s largest privately owned publisher of Christian material has won its case against the US Government’s controversial mandatory abortion pill provision.
Tyndale House Publishers, based in Illinois, objected to the requirement for employers to provide insurance coverage for abortion drugs and contraception, or face steep financial penalties.
Lawyers acting for the publisher argued that companies should be allowed to operate in line with their religious or moral convictions.
Victory
On Wednesday last week a federal district court issued a permanent injunction in favour of Tyndale, meaning that the US Government cannot enforce its mandate on the business.
Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Matt Bowman, who represented Tyndale, welcomed the result.
He said: “Americans should be free to live and work according to their faith without fear of punishment by the government.
Freedom
“That includes Bible publishers, who should be free to do business according to the book that they publish”.
He added: “In America, citizens have always had the freedom to believe, the freedom to express those beliefs, and the freedom to operate their businesses accordingly.
“The Supreme Court upheld that principle in its Conestoga/Hobby Lobby decision last year, and the district court has rightly done the same.”
Landmark’ ruling
In June 2014, Hobby Lobby, a Christian-run business won its case against the abortion pill mandate in a “landmark” ruling by the United States Supreme Court.
The company – which has over 600 arts and crafts stores across 47 US states – said the decision allows them to continue to operate according to their principles.
Reacting to the result, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented Hobby Lobby, described it as a “great day for religious liberty”.