In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday directed New York’s highest court to reconsider its earlier ruling that upheld a state mandate requiring religious employers to include abortion coverage in their health insurance plans. The case, Diocese of Albany v. Harris, was brought by a coalition of Catholic and Anglican organizations that argued the 2017 mandate violated their religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of life. The original law exempted only those organizations that both employed and served primarily people of the same faith—excluding ministries like food banks and shelters that serve the broader public. The Supreme Court’s directive references its recent decision in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin, which strengthened protections for religious entities under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause.

Attorney Lori Windham criticized New York’s narrow interpretation of religious freedom, remarking that even Jesus or Mother Teresa wouldn’t qualify for the exemption under the current law. With the Supreme Court’s remand, New York courts must now apply “strict scrutiny” to the case—meaning the state must demonstrate that the abortion mandate serves a compelling interest and is the least restrictive means of achieving that interest. Religious liberty advocates have hailed the move as a major victory, viewing it as a check on government overreach and a reaffirmation of the rights of faith-based groups to operate in accordance with their beliefs while serving the wider public. The outcome of the reconsideration could have far-reaching implications for religious freedom and health care mandates nationwide.