A federal appeals court this week blocked an Obamacare provision requiring employers to include birth-control coverage in employee insurance. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled that the rule imposes a “substantial burden” on the religious rights of companies. “This is a significant victory for protecting the religious beliefs of individuals and corporations,” said Edward White, the lawyer for an Illinois construction firm owned by a Catholic couple opposed to contraception. The ruling contradicts appeals court decisions in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, which stated that companies have no religious rights. The Supreme Court could decide as soon as this month to review the issue.
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