Local Groups React To Supreme Court Ruling In Hobby Lobby Case

By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Supreme Court decision says closely-held for-profit companies, like the arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby, can opt out of the new health law requirement that they help pay for contraceptives for women, based on religious objections.

The justices' 5-4 ruling on Monday is a loss for reproductive rights advocates, and groups on both sides of the issue are speaking out.

The President of the Philadelphia-based American Pastors Network, Sam Rohrer, says the Court's decision means business owners do not have to forfeit their convictions or religious beliefs. But he wishes the Justices came up with a broader order.

"By crafting it so narrowly, the issue of other aspects of matters of faith beyond contraceptives are not affected by this case," he says.

Keystone Progress Executive Director Michael Morrill calls it an "unfortunate decision."

"It opens the floodgates, so that people who object to health care coverage, like blood transfusions, can come back, based on this decision, and ask that it not be included, either."

Morrill says it could open the door for corporations to consider denying other benefits on the grounds of religious belief.

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