So who will be the judge

[Curmudgeoness]

as to whether a business is "religious enough" to be exempted from the ACA requirements because it goes against their faith?

Can I be that judge? I think that there should be scrutiny of every corner of their lives before I can believe that they are devout enough. But seriously, how is this going to be judged???? Every scam artist in the country will all of a sudden "be religious".

[DavidDvorkin]

1. I think it's only dependent on whether the company is closely held

Which is straightforward, not on how religious it is.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. It does specify "closely held" corporations,

but it also specifies that they are applying the Religious Freedom Reclamation Act of 1993 in the ruling. So it is only about religious beliefs and how strong the "closely held for-profit corporation" owners' beliefs are. But don't expect that to stop a lot of wishy-washy owners from claiming that their beliefs are being infringed upon.

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for the majority, emphasized the ruling’s limited scope. For starters, he said, the court ruled only that a federal religious-freedom law applied to “closely held” for-profit corporations run on religious principles. Even those corporations, he said, were unlikely to prevail if they objected to complying with other laws on religious grounds.

snip

The contraceptive coverage requirement was challenged by two corporations whose owners say they try to run their businesses on Christian principles: Hobby Lobby, a chain of craft stores, and Conestoga Wood Specialties, which makes wood cabinets. The requirement has also been challenged in 50 other cases, according to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented Hobby Lobby.

Justice Alito said the requirement that the two companies provide contraception coverage imposed a substantial burden on their religious liberty. Hobby Lobby, he said, could face annual fines of $475 million if it failed to comply.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/us/hobby-lobby-case-supreme-court-contraception.html?_r=0

[AlbertCat]

3. Every scam artist in the country will all of a sudden "be religious".

They already are....aren't they?

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Point well taken.

That is what makes them so trustworthy.

[amuse bouche]

6. I can't express how disgusted and creeped out

I am over this sickening religie sham

[Curmudgeoness]

8. Creeped out is the proper expression for this.

I really do worry about the direction this country is moving in, and I only can hope that they will go too far for even the religious people to tolerate....we have to have their voices and votes.

[onager]

5. "Welcome, new employee..."

"Here's your benefits package."

"Where's the medical plan?"

"Page 3."

"But...but...page 3 appears to be nothing but a short prayer."

"Well of course. This company's owners don't believe in any of that evil man-made medical stuff. If you get sick, all the other employees pray for you. Even the company owners join in. And since they're rich, their prayers count double. At least!"

"THAT'S your medical plan?"

"Yes. We call it the Comprehensive Holistic Other Ways Of Knowing Medical Plan."

"But...but...has anyone complained about this?"

"Of course not. If you complain and still get well, obviously you're some kind of malcontent atheist who didn't appreciate our prayers...er, I mean, innovative metaphysical health care plan. And we fire you. If you don't get well, you're beyond complaining about anything. It's a big win-win!"

[Curmudgeoness]

7. That certainly is a win-win

for the company. I would laugh at your little story, but I worry that it isn't as funny as we might think. I am not sure how much further we can go in this country.