Hobby Lobby and Mardel on Wednesday appealed an Oklahoma City federal judge's refusal to block enforcement of a mandate in the Affordable Care Act that requires the Oklahoma City companies to provide insurance coverage for contraception to 13,000 employees and their dependents.

The brief claims U.S. District Judge Judge Joe Heaton's decision on Monday exposes the firm and its owners “to the precise predicament religious liberty laws exist to prevent — enormous government pressure to violate their sincere religious beliefs.”

Possible penalties

Hobby Lobby founder David Green and his family own and operate the companies.