Hobby Lobby, government ask for delay in case over health care law, contraception

Hobby Lobby attorneys said in an appeal filed last week that four other federal district courts have granted preliminary injunctions to business owners in similar cases.

“The district court missed the obvious: ruining a believer's business with fines unless he violates his faith substantially burdens religious exercise,” the attorneys wrote.

“Granting the motion would allow them to continue offering employees the current health plan, with all the mandated preventive services — including most contraceptives — less one small subset of drugs that can cause abortions.”

Government attorneys said Hobby Lobby is a for-profit, secular corporation, not a religious organization. The law allows exemptions for religious employers.

“The obligation to cover contraceptive services lies with the Hobby Lobby group health plan, which, like Hobby Lobby itself, is a legal entity separate and distinct from the corporation's owners,” government attorneys wrote.