A letter from the CEO of Hobby Lobby

[The True Zephyr]

A Letter from Hobby Lobby Stores CEO
By David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

When my family and I started our company 40 years ago, we
were working out of a garage on a $600 bank loan, assembling miniature picture frames. Our first retail store wasn't much bigger than most people's living rooms, but we had faith that we would succeed if we lived and worked according to God's word. From there,Hobby Lobby has become one of the nation's largest arts and crafts retailers, with more than 500 locations in 41 states. Our children grew up into fine business leaders, and today we run Hobby Lobby together, as a family.

We're Christians, and we run our business on Christian principles. I've always said that the first two goals of our business are (1) to run our business in harmony with God's laws, and (2) to focus on people more than money. And that's what we've tried to do. We close early so our employees can see their families at night. We keep our stores closed on Sundays, one of the week's biggest shopping days, so that our workers and their families can enjoy a day of rest. We believe that it is by God's grace that Hobby Lobby has endured, and he has blessed us and our employees. We've not only added jobs in a weak economy, we've raised wages for the past four years in a row. Our full-time employees start at 80% above minimum wage.

But now, our government threatens to change all of that. A new government health care mandate says that our family business MUST provide what I believe are abortion-causing drugs as part of our health insurance. Being Christians, we don't pay for drugs that might cause abortions, which means that we don't cover emergency contraception, the morning-after pill or the week-after pill. We believe doing so might end a life after the moment of conception, something that is contrary to our most important beliefs. It goes against the Biblical principles on which we have run this company since day one. If we refuse to comply, we could face $1.3 million PER DAY in government fines.

Our government threatens to fine job creators in a bad economy. Our government threatens to fine a company that's raised wages four years running. Our government threatens to fine a family for running its business according to its beliefs. It's not right. I know people will say we ought to follow the rules; that it's the same for everybody. But that's not true. The government has exempted thousands of companies from this mandate, for reasons of convenience or cost. But it won't exempt them for reasons of religious belief.

So, Hobby Lobby and my family are forced to make a choice. With great reluctance, we filed a lawsuit today, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, asking a federal court to stop this mandate before it hurts our business. We don't like to go running into court, but we no longer have a choice. We believe people are more important than the bottom line and that honoring God is more important than turning a profit.

My family has lived the American dream. We want to continue growing our company and providing great jobs for thousands of employees, but the government is going to make that much more difficult. The government is forcing us to choose between following our faith and following the law. I say that's a choice no American and no American business should have to make.
The government cannot force you to follow laws that go against your fundamental religious belief. They have exempted thousands of companies but will not except Christian organizations including the Catholic church.

Since you will not see this covered in any of the liberal media, pass this on to all your contacts.
Sincerely,
David Green, CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

So, what're your opinions on this? I personally believe they have the right to religious freedom, but what do you guys think?

[Ad Bot]

[xbox 360 fan]

How'd you get it?

[The True Zephyr]

It's just been going around the web.

[.Atlas]

I personally believe they have the right to religious freedom, but what do you guys think?

This to infinity. It's his business, he can run it how he pleases as long as it isn't for illegal purposes.

[Darkness ZXW]

So they're refusing to pay taxes because they don't agree with abortion? That's pretty stupid.

[Frontrox]

So they're refusing to pay taxes because they don't agree with abortion? That's pretty stupid.

It's a fine

[Jaxx]

So they're refusing to pay taxes because they don't agree with abortion? That's pretty stupid.

they are entirely within their legal boundaries, given that most of the core tenants of the recently passed healthcare law are entirely unconstitutional, and have the federal government far overstepping its bounds.

[Darkness ZXW]

they are entirely within their legal boundaries, given that most of the core tenants of the recently passed healthcare law are entirely unconstitutional, and have the federal government far overstepping its bounds.

Ah. Just skimmed over the letter.

[.Atlas]

they are entirely within their legal boundaries, given that most of the core tenants of the recently passed healthcare law are entirely unconstitutional, and have the federal government far overstepping its bounds.

Hey look, someone who knows what they're talking about when it comes to politics on this forum. God, what a welcome change.

[Mysteroo]

This to infinity. It's his business, he can run it how he pleases as long as it isn't for illegal purposes.

Definitely. However I'm not entirely sure this is real,

Since you will not see this covered in any of the liberal media, pass this on to all your contacts.

That kind of sounds like it could be a fake message, like all those fake messages from the "ceo of facebook," saying you have to share this or your account will be banned.
If it's real, I'm with him all the way. But it sounds very sketchy

[Mr.jacksaunt]

It should be within their rights to not cover post-zigotic birth control.

[Kalphiter]

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 19:24

[Kearn]

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

someone's awful at interpretation

the goal of that is that wealthy people usually continue to hold faith in their stuff whereas the poor don't have much to turn to

[Kalphiter]

someone's awful at interpretation

the goal of that is that wealthy people usually continue to hold faith in their stuff whereas the poor don't have much to turn to

Tip: Jesus hates the rich

[The True Zephyr]

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 19:24

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”"
Matthew 19:26



EDIT: Also, just did a little research. At the time of the writing, there weren't needles as we think of them. The eye of the needle was a sheep gate passing into Jerusalem. The only way to pass through for camels was on their knees.