Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) AP Photo
“You’re born with a religion or you adopt a religion. You have to obey the precepts of that religion and the government gives you a wide penumbra – you don’t have to form a corporation,” Schumer said.
In the Hobby Lobby case, decided last month, the Supreme Court ruled that a closely-held family-owned corporation could not be forced by the government to violate their Christian beliefs by providing insurance coverage for drugs and devices that can cause abortions. Schumer argues that the court "misapplied" the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
“When we wrote RFRA back in 1993 we did so to protect individuals with strong religious beliefs and give them the presumption they have always enjoyed. That they should be able to exercise their religious beliefs without interference from the government”, Schumer said.
“The court took that and applied it – misapplied it – to for-profit companies who exist for the purpose of benefitting from the open market, working in the marketplace under our laws.”
“We wouldn’t tell the owners of Hobby Lobby to convert to a different religion or disobey their religion - but we don’t say that they have to open up a company and go sell toys or hobby kits.”
Schumer’s comments came at a conference to push the Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act, a Democratic bill aimed at forcing employers to abide by the ObamaCare contraception mandate reversing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the issue.