The decision marks the first time that the Supreme Court has allowed companies the ability to declare a religious belief.
In the opinion, Justice Samuel Alito stated, “We doubt that the Congress that enacted [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] — or . . . would have believed it a tolerable result to put family-run businesses to the choice of violating their sincerely held religious beliefs or making all of their employees lose their existing healthcare plans."
The dissent expressed shock at the decision's “startling breadth”, explaining that it allows companies to “opt out of any law (saving only tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Justice Ginsburg, in her dissent, warned that the ruling that would have wide repercussions and “untoward effects.” Further noting that “Although the court attempts to cabin its language to closely held corporations, its logic extends to corporations of any size, public or private.”