Conestoga Wood Specialties based in Pennsylvania with plants in Beavertown and Beaver Springs, Snyder County is one of several companies embroiled in controversy over the birth control mandates included in The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.  Owners Norman and Samuel Hahn are Mennonites whose religious principles prohibit the use of abortifacient birth control methods covered in the healthcare law.  Under penalty of $100 per day per employee the Hahns determined to stand for their religious freedom.  With approximately 1000 employees Conestoga’s fine, if assessed, would prohibit the company from continuing to do profitable business.

In a related case the David Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby, also oppose covering the abortifacients in their employee insurance policies.  Hobby Lobby owns over 560 stores in 41 states and employs 21,000.  If the ACA fine were collected from Hobby Lobby it too would be unable to continue business as usual.  In both cases the devastating loss of employment would be a minor consequence when compared to the loss of religious freedom.

Conestoga and Hobby Lobby are awaiting their oral arguments to be heard at the US Supreme Court on March 25.

Conestoga Fact Sheet

At issue: Christian business owners operating on biblical principles

Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius

9 weeks of prayer for religious freedom

Abortifacient birth control methods