TMC officials pleased, hopeful about SCOTUS decision in Hobby Lobby case

CLEVELAND - The United States Supreme Court's decision this week in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores is good news for Americans' religious liberty and Truett-McConnell College, at least for now, according to Dr. Emir Caner, president of the school. <br /> <br /> Caner previously has stated the Georgia Baptist college would "never provide abortifacient drugs" as part of its health insurance plan for employees. He based the statement on his conviction, and that of other Georgia Baptists, that the Bible affirms the sanctity of human life, and that the US Constitution guarantees the right to life.<br /> <br /> The 5-4 SCOTUS decision Monday affirms the right of Christian owners of for-profit businesses to operate their health plans in a way that is consistent with their faith and values.<br /> <br /> Though the ruling protected family business owners, it has left unanswered whether the so-called accommodation to the contraceptive mandate provided to religious non-profit employers is constitutional.<br /> <br /> According to information in a news release from the school "Fifty-one religious nonprofits have filed lawsuits against the birth-control mandate, according to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is coordinating the legal campaign against the policy. Truett-McConnell College is among the 51 making the challenge." <br /> <br /> Dr. Caner in a statement Monday following the Supreme Court decision said, "For those who hold so dearly to the American and biblical principle of religious liberty, today we stand up and gratefully applaud the Supreme Court's ruling affirming the right of Hobby Lobby owners to stand for their faith. This crucial ruling, along with a hopeful affirmative decision of our case by the courts in the future can illustrate to a new generation of Americans the incredible blessing of living with unfettered religious liberty, unencumbered by government coercion and interference."