RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IN THE WORKPLACE

After the Affordable Care Act passed, the for-profit Holly Lobby corporation sued the government on the basis of the religious beliefs of its owners who did not believe in birth control. Hobby Lobby won the lawsuit and was granted an exemption from that portion of the ACA which included employee-covered birth control. In a related case, a Colorado baker won a lawsuit that was brought against him by a homosexual couple when the baker refused, on the basis of his religious beliefs, to bake a wedding cake for the couple. In other cases in this general topic, doctors, government employees, and healthcare providers have brought or been the target of lawsuits when they refuse to or are forced to provide services that conflict with their religious beliefs. When choosing this topic, note that it is easy to get distracted by your feelings on this issue. Try to step back from any strong feelings you have and approach the topic by narrowing in on a specific right or duty or obligation and whether it is moral to grant or deny a right or duty or force a specific behavior.

Part 1: Introduction, Case Study, Ethical Question
In this section, present an introduction to the general topic, explain the case study, identify the central moral controversy at stake, and articulate an ethical question that describes the central moral controversy at stake. This section must include one quote from one of the resources provided with the case study. To complete this section,
• Choose a case study from the selection provided by your instructor in the Week 3 announcement titled “Week 3 Case Studies.”
• Present a brief introduction to the case study.
• Discuss background information.
• Identify the central moral controversy at stake in the case study.
• Articulate an ethical question based on the central moral controversy.
This section should be around 300 words.

Part 2: Reading Philosophy Reflection
In this section, choose one of the philosophical texts associated with your chosen ethical theory listed in the Philosophical Texts Download Philosophical Textsdocument. Copy and paste the text into this section of the paper. After applying the reading philosophy steps from the Week 1 discussion,
• Explain the key ideas in the text.
• Discuss how your understanding of the text evolved after multiple reads.
This section should be around 150 words (excluding the philosophical text).

Part 3: Explanation of Utilitarianism or Deontology
In this section, describe the ethical theory of utilitarianism or deontology and explain its core principles. This section must include one quote from the provided resources on the ethical theory. To complete this section,
• Discuss the historical background of the ethical theory and the philosopher(s) associated with it.
• Explain the core moral principle of the theory, or if there is more than one, the principle that you will focus on in applying that theory to your question.

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Part 1: Introduction, Case Study, Ethical Question

Case Study: Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (2014)

The landmark Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. ignited a national debate on religious liberty and its boundaries in the workplace. The for-profit corporation Hobby Lobby, owned by the Green family, objected to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) mandate requiring employers to provide health insurance plans that cover contraception. The Greens argued that certain forms of birth control violated their sincerely held religious beliefs. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby,

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Central Moral Controversy:

The central moral controversy in this case revolves around the potential conflict between religious freedom and the right to access healthcare, particularly reproductive healthcare. The Greens argue their religious beliefs should exempt them from providing certain types of birth control to their employees, even though it is mandated by law. This raises the question of how much weight should be given to religious beliefs when they clash with legal requirements.

Ethical Question:

Is it ethically permissible for a for-profit corporation to deny its employees health insurance coverage for certain services based on the religious beliefs of its owners, especially when such coverage is mandated by law?

Quote:

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, stated, “The contraception mandate forces employers to engage in conduct that violates their religious beliefs by requiring them to pay for the unlicensed practice of medicine and to subsidize abortion and contraception” (Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 2014). This quote highlights the crux of the case: the Green family’s belief that the ACA mandate forces them to violate their religious convictions.

Part 2: Reading Philosophy Reflection (Placeholder)

[To be completed – Choose a philosophical text associated with your chosen ethical theory (Utilitarianism or Deontology) and replace this placeholder]

Part 3: Explanation of Utilitarianism or Deontology (Placeholder)

[To be completed – Choose Utilitarianism or Deontology and provide a description of the theory, its historical background, core principles, and a relevant quote]

 

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