It is wonderful to see there are people who will stand for their convictions in the face of great loss. What is our country coming to when upstanding successful business people are forced to close their businesses because of unrighteous laws? I pray we will all be willing to do this when the need arises and not compromise our values.
"The wisdom that comes from above is first, pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruit, without uncertainty or insincerity."
James 3:17
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 healthcare 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.
Sun. Dec. 1: I have just learned that the following (in brackets) was added to Mr. Green's original letter in the email I received. I had checked with several sources (truthorfiction.com, Snopes.com) to verify that the letter had indeed been written by David Green before I posted it, but didn't realize that someone had made this addition to the original letter. My apologies to Mr. Green for posting the addition thinking it was part of the original.
[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 exempt Christian organizations including the Catholic church.
Since you will not see this in the liberal media, please pass this on to all your contacts.]
Sincerely,
David Green
CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
James 3:17
By David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
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 healthcare 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.
Sun. Dec. 1: I have just learned that the following (in brackets) was added to Mr. Green's original letter in the email I received. I had checked with several sources (truthorfiction.com, Snopes.com) to verify that the letter had indeed been written by David Green before I posted it, but didn't realize that someone had made this addition to the original letter. My apologies to Mr. Green for posting the addition thinking it was part of the original.
[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 exempt Christian organizations including the Catholic church.
Since you will not see this in the liberal media, please pass this on to all your contacts.]
Sincerely,
David Green
CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
110 comments:
We are fraying with you the God be glorified and His way be thrust forth for all to see. Thank you for your stand for righteousness.
Steve Buerer
Sacramento CA
It has come to that, hasn't it? We have been silent too long, expecting that the freedoms which were granted in the Constitution would stand forever. It is time for all who love God and this country to take a stand! I appreciate your comment and your prayers. Blessings, Brenda
His beliefs are completely misinformed. The "morning after pill" is nothing more than a high dose birth control pill. There IS an actual abortion pill that works up to 9 weeks after conception. That is NOT the morning after pill, they work entirely different and are different drugs. Taking the morning after pill TOO LATE (after conception) will not do anything to the fetus.
So he's risking putting thousands of employees out of work because he doesn't know how an option of birth control works? He's not standing up for his beliefs, he's being ignorant.
Or it might be that he is not ignorant, and would also be against the types of birth control that do have spermicides as well.
I don't believe we should call someone ignorant just because we don't agree with their conclusions. It has been my experience that those who judge are being judged in the same way by someone else.
Anyway, to me the point is it's his company so he has a right to choose what he supports with his money. And I am impressed he is willing to do it at the threat of great loss to him personally. We need millions more like him!
If it is against his principles to support birth control (and abortion) the government should not be allowed to force him to do it. I admire him for as they say, "putting his money where his mouth is". We supposedly live in a free country but our freedoms are quickly being eroded and will be taken away completely if we don't stand for our convictions no matter what the cost.
What's "fraying"?
I assume that is a typo and that praying was meant.
For those who haven't passed high school biology; The morning after pill doesn't affect conception, but implantation. The pill irritates the uterine wall so that the living embryo cannot implant to form a placenta and continue growth. As such, the embryo dies and is passed through menstruation. In essence, it's a self abortion. I have the highest respect for a company that holds to their values, when Big Brother Obama is trying out socialism.
Many Christians believe that life begins at the moment of conception. So if the morning after pill is taken after conception, then it is considered abortion in their eyes. When it comes down to it, he is standing firm with his beliefs. We need more people like that.
May God bless you and keep you as you follow Him! I will keep you in my prayers as you seek to follow the highest calling and do what we know is the right thing to do no matter what our personal cost. As a nurse I agree with your call about the morning after pill. God knows your heart and He will take care of you! Shalom
There is the point exactly...living embryo...LIVING human embryo and thus having the ability to grow into a fully-formed LIVING human being. Sperm does not have that ability on its own, nor does the egg, but a living embryo is the beginning of human life once joined and beginning now as a LIVING HUMAN EMBRYO.
em·bryo
noun \ˈem-brē-ˌō\
: a human or animal in the early stages of development before it is born, hatched, etc.
Merriam Webster dictionary
One learns THIS in Biology class.
Do you ever feel like you're sitting in the prison cell underneath the Roman Coliseum waiting for your turn to be a lion's lunch? I never thought I would feel this scared or this vulnerable in my own beloved country. SHAME on the American government! SHAME on B.O....the king of stink. If Hobby Lobby goes out of business, I say we grab our favorite scrapbooking tool (preferably something very sharp and pointy) and charge the Capital! Who's with me?
While I respect his personal beliefs, I do not believe he has the right to impose his convictions on his employees. We are a nation of religious freedoms, not religious beliefs chosen by the boss.
Anonymous says that he believes that he does not have the right to impose his convictions on his employees. How is he doing that? He is not preventing that employee from getting an birth control or getting an abortion. She can always do that--the question is who should pay for it? Asking someone who doesn't believe in it to pay for it is going too far.
I absolutely agree with the "lions lunch" comment. It is almost impossible for a private business to fight a federal government with unlimited resources. It makes me feel like a prisoner, as a small business owner. I feel like we are screaming in a cell, at the top of our lungs, and no one cares because the problem is "too big"!!
Amen! Exactly the point!!!
It isn't about forcing other people to follow his beliefs.
To provide for people what you know to be morally wrong would be a betrayal the God you serve.
That is what the issue is here.
Where was I when America voted out freedom of religion?
True, it's his business and he can do with it what he wants. It seems, rather irresponsible, however, to ruin the lives of his thousands of employees who depend on the income from their jobs just because he can. He won't suffer, he'll sit on his millions he's made. It's the poor guy/gal supporting their family who'll feel all this pain.
Mr. Green isn't trying to ruin the lives of his employees--that is what the government is trying to do. Mr. Green is asking to be allowed to run his business according to his values. It appears he has provided well for his employees and created jobs for thousands of people so why wouldn't the government want him to continue instead of trying to close him down? When unemployment is at an all time high why in the world would the government do all they can to put more people out of work? It is because Mr. Green is a Christian. If he was Muslim there would be an exemption for his company with no questions asked. If Obama & the rest of Congress would follow the laws established in the Constitution we wouldn't have this unconstitutional mandate in the first place.
David Green has the right to view this with tunnel vision.
To fray:(of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge, typically through constant rubbing.
the only person we can blame for all of this is ourselves , we talk alot but when it come down to doing something, when its time to put our beliefs into action , we just stand around and blame others. it is sad
You said it right there living embryo. So there for if you discard the LIVING EMBRYO you are killing life .there for it is abortion even if it is from the very start of life.
clearly, we all do realize that just because you "dont believe in something" does not exempt you from contributing. I don't believe struggling working families should gave to scrimp & save to pay bills, put food on the table to barely make it day to day, while those on assistance who are not actively trying to better themselves can sit around eating whatever they like in their subsidized housing. we pay for that... as much as it goes against MY belief of what is right.
Biblically, we are commanded to follow the laws of the land... we pay taxes, abide by a legal system and government that many feel is corrupt... but still we follow. We condemn those with unplanned pregnancies because they are not being responsible & our living reckless, Godless lives. We don't look at the basic facts that the morning after pill is NO different than the other contraceptive pills that many people feel completely fine about taking.
Furthermore, you are NOT instantly pregnant the moment the act is over... it takes time people.
You know what? DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. DON'T TRUST MY OPINION. Quit being mindless sheep and research, find your own voice, your own opinions and QUIT believing everything that you read on Facebook and in the media. KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED!
If many folks here would bother to take time to do basic research on how the morning after pill actually works, they would discover that it works by delaying ovulation. In other words, there is no embryo, implanted or otherwise.
While people are entitled to their beliefs, they are not entitled to their facts. Mr. Green is free to close all of his stores based on his erroneous belief, but at that point, he may as well be standing up for his belief that the earth is the center of the universe.
People are forgetting that there are those who run companies whose beliefs would put their employees' lives at jeopardy, if they were granted the same leeway that this company owner is demanding. If a JW owner didn't want to pay for blood transfusions, should that be allowed? If a Christian Scientist owner didn't want to pay for insurance, because Christian Scientists are instructed by their textbook to use "radical reliance" on Christian healing for all their needs, including health, adhering to Jesus's command to "heal the sick"... does that mean that all of that owner's employees should be forced to pray for healing and not count on modern medicine?
I believe you are correct we are being forced to support something that is morally wrong. There are millions world wide that feel the president has lost touch with the people. He continues to push his own agenda on us as an American society that was founded on faith and trust in God. And how can we turn from God and force people to financially support it. My view is you support God. His wrath is far more lasting than the presidents. I pray that the president will wake up and care more for the people in our Nation than he does for small clusters of people with big mouths. We support the gift of life and know it is a gift from God.
I stand with him. It's our choice and our right to stand on our Godly convictions.
If you don't want to get pregnant and you want to kill the child..then keep your legs closed and no one has to buy your condoms, birth control nor any other devise for your pleasure only..would you like the company to provide you dinner and drink first and the cigarette afterwards..you have to take responsibility for your own actions instead of give give give..from someone else pocket on everything you want to do..this man provides insurance for illnesses, a business for consumers and jobs for his employees..the insurance also covers obesity but he pays for that too heart trouble, high blood pressure..diabetics which some can be controlled with food to name a few, but no he pays for your pills because people are lazy..blame everyone else, do nothing for themselves and let someone else pay for it..
And yet the majority of your goods are imported from China...let's look at abortions there based on sex of the child, etc. Hypocrisy alert.
If the morning after pill is taken after conception it quite simply will not work. It does not cause abortions. It prevents ovulation, that is how it works. In no way shape or form does it cause an abortion.
Obama should not be able to give himself this much control over our healthcare. He is changing things that are not to be changed. I rarely shop at Hobby Lobby but when I do need crafts, I go there. It's the only craft store in our city. I like that it's closed on Sundays. More stores should be closed like in the good old days.
So basically, your employees have to have the same beliefs about "conception" and "abortion" as you. Typical Christian hypocrite.
Mr. Green is not saying they have to have his beliefs. If they want to have an abortion or use contraception they can still work at his store, but they can pay for it themselves. That seems only logical to me!
You are mandated to provide a wage also. And when one of your employees takes that wage, purchases a firearm, kills another.....or uses that wage to buy alcohol, gets drunk and dives a car into another car, killing most of the family in the other car.....well that is OK. That is an individual choice......I am a Christian and I believe you are USING faith to grandstand.
We are idiots in this country. Mr. Green may live by his Christian values, but he does not have the right to inflict his beliefs upon others.
It is called "family planning" for a reason. We do have a right to practice that. Mr. Green trying to equivocate birth control with abortion is ignorant. Birth control pills prevent ovulation. The morning after pill purports to do the same thing, in a shorter time frame.
Ladies, this is exactly the type of discrimination that we should ALL be opposed to and instead, we're back to "just keep your legs closed, and if you can't you must be a ...." What a crock. Plenty of young families need to be able to practice family planning because....wait for it....they KNOW they are not financially able to support a child when they are just starting out. Or, the family that already has two that they can barely afford. What about them?
Mr. Green would prefer keeping the women barefoot and pregnant, it would seem.
I won't shopping Hobby Lobby again. Ever.
some are crying foul because he's closing his business and ruining the lives of a few thousand employees...Under your logic, it should be fair to have the US government telling our top 10% they can't ever leave the country because their taxes make up half the tax revenues.
See how stupid that sounds? He added thousands of jobs. He built that company from the ground up. He added to the economy. If he bought a company just so he could close it and reap the rewards, I could see your point.
people aren't losing money out of their pockets. There's a difference between losing money and not making money. They'll take their last check and walk away.
Well even if that's true that it only prevents pregnancy it's still against some Christian demoniations beliefs and should NOT be FORCED on any company to provide to anyone. In fact it shoulf be the individual's choice and at their own expense.
Learn the meaning of the word self-righteous and hypocrite while you're at it. Jesus would be saddened by your actions. Also learn how birth control works because clearly no one ever taught you. Such a moron..
"Mr. Green would prefer keeping the women barefoot and pregnant, it would seem."
This is the kind of rhetoric which only illuminates your blatant ignorance and stupidity. You're not exactly helping our image as women.
Look at me, I'm a high and mighty feminist, and I'm going to impose my beliefs on everyone else because I want to keep my legs spread open and I want to do it for free. And if anyone disagrees, I'll get after them for forcing my beliefs on me.
Are you kidding me, woman? Are you that dumb? How can you force a group of people to accept your views, but call them hypocrites because they won't see eye to eye with you? Look in the mirror hun.
Are people forced to work there? No.
I don't like to be looked at by men like a piece of meat, so I won't be working at a strip club. There goes one less job I can do.
I don't like alcoholics, so I won't work at a bar. One less job for me.
Did it ever occur to you that if you don't like a place, you don't have to work there?
He's not asking to ban birth control he's refusing to pay for it for you. Get it with your own money. If you can't afford it, keep your legs closed. That's what I do when I can't afford it.
He's not imposing anything on anyone. The government is, and he's taking a stand.
soooo what we are saying here is that he pays for the whole insurance package...the employee pays nothing...fair enough ...if he is hot paying for the whole package he needs to include it all so the employee can choose what they want...but I think this is a case of be be like the great M E...not everybody believes what he believes...and that is why we are a free country ...so we may believe what We feel is right ...so I say if he pays for the whole package then he has the right to limit the package...but if he does not and the employees are paying as much as I do for insurance they should have a choice in what They pay for...wth
I find it very interesting how people want to give a piece of their mind but want to stay anonymous....
hummmmmm
What does that say about you?
Who are you? you could be anyone...or no one?
Really? you have an opinion at least let us know WHO has an opinion....
Just saying....
Oh! and I absolutely agree with David Green! It is his business, he should be able to run it the way He wants, the Government should stay out of his business! God Bless you sir for standing up for what you Believe!!
We speak ignorantly of things we know nothing about.
No man can judge another man's heart or the intent of their heart. Man twists and mutilates words to hold up his beliefs. Judging another's heart or the intents of the heart is God's job. Let's leave that business up to God. For we will be judged in the same manner as we judge others.
You sell crap made in China, where there have been more than 300 million abortions in the past 3 years. Way to keep the faith!
I applaud Mr. Green for standing his ground, even to the point of personal loss -- that's true discipleship, and it's what all Christians are called to do (Luke 9:23-25). So rare to find someone at the top who isn't a hypocrite willing to compromise his values for a buck. I'm inspired!
I hear Russia has your same values of follow my beliefs or ill close it all down why dont you move there... signed American Christian
Just shows another Money Man imposing his values with the all mighty dollar.
All of you have so misszd the point.. Its called freedom.. Period!
Thank you, moringalori, for encouraging people to post with their names instead of anonymously. Mr. Green not only has given his name but is willing to sacrifice his business for the values he lives by but many who would criticize are reluctant to post their name to what they believe. A very good point. Which do you view more courageous?
Posting names also makes it much easier to reply to a specific comment.
Thanks for all the discussion. I am enjoying the comments. I do ask that you refrain from name calling. I have deleted posts that had no content other than nasty name calling and will continue to do so.
"This is the kind of rhetoric which only illuminates your blatant ignorance and stupidity. You're not exactly helping our image as women."
Excuse me? I appreciate your comments about "choice" in the workplace, alchohol, smoking, etc.
But to suggest that an employer has the right to choose the healthcare that they want to allow their employees to have....?
At some point, it does become a civil rights issue, rather than just a religious one. Yes. I said "just" a religious one. The USA is not a theocracy, after all.
No matter how badly some of you want it to be, it just isn't.
Now, ms feminist, care to tell me what happens to a 16 year old who needs the pill to treat cysts? How about the 48 year old woman with ovarian cysts? The pill does have long recognized medical uses, too. AGain, Mr. Green chooses to believe that he is allowed to choose the ceiling of medical treatment and family planning options that he will allow his employees. Discrimination. Pure and simple.
And I meant to ask, will he also be disallowing Viagra?
Just curious.
Not really, they can open their own stores and run it the way they want silly glass "half empty" human.
Amen ...
His belief is his belief. I myself do not think I should have to pay for someone's else birth control. This man has built a corporation just with hard work and his religious beliefs. He doesn't sound ignorant to me. What about you have your built up a multi-million corporation? I just want to be on his coat-tails when he goes to heaven. He is a oddity in the fact that he stands up for his beliefs and is what I would call a GOOD man!
You're kidding, right? Employees are not slaves. You don't have a right to a job from nor obligation to work for a Christian. It's your choice and it's the employer's right. Would you say that the employees should be able to open the store on Sunday, because of the money they could make?
Best reply so far! Screw Hobby Lobby and their owner's backwards view about women. The bible itself isn't very kind to women either.
The owner does not have a backwards view about women. This is an incorrect assumption based on what the media and this administration has tried to use to condemn people of faith.
Based on pure science: Life begins at conception. That moment when sperm fertilizes egg.
This is not fiction. This is not based on religion. This is not based on politics.
Signed: Biologist.
My two cents: I don't think any company should be exempt from the law. For any reason what so ever. From Hobby Lobby to all the companies that have been given exemptions. I think Obamacare is a joke and should be trashed, but if it continues going forward it should literally be for everyone. Not for everyone but a select few. In the long run, it is not going to matter, because the long term goal of Obamacare is to push every single person into the insurance pools and do away with employer based coverage.
I'm sure he meant PRAYING.
To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas Jefferson
The employee can always pay for it. That's what i did when i worked for a bunch of Catholics.
"Let me close my huge business so I don't have to give my employees fair benefits." - a crybaby.
Yes, that's why people can purchase their own. Duh.
Then learn to buy your own damned stuff. I did when i had a job that wouldn't cover contraceptives. It's called family planning after all, and my co-workers are not part of my family.
Praying for all who have serious decisions to make and stands to take. It's so sad that Hobby Lobby has been forced into this position.
If they're paying for it, yeah, they kind of do. Do you get to choose your uniform? Do you get to choose your seats you use while there? Toilet paper?
I always tell people if they don't like what they're provided, go by your own. I'm only in the office, but just because you whine like a baby doesn't mean we're going to get you the best in the catalouge.
I always tell the ladies at my church's weekly Knitting For Christ meetings that Hobby Lobby is the company directly from God. I know when I buy some kooky picture frames for my siblings that I'm buying directly from a man of God. I also tell them to NEVER shop at Michael's. That company is BORN DIRECTLY OUT OF SATAN'S ANUS! PRAISE BE HIS NAME!!!!!!!!
Our freedom is gone. Everything we stood for is being taken away from us. "We the people are finished as well as our constitution. One man has entered and our government we trusted in now listens to a Muslim. All the In God we trust, Bible, prayer in the schools. Our beloved Christmas celebration of Jesus Christ our savior and Christmas Carols almost gone. Who will help to remove this ungodly President! Don't be fooled that just because he goes to church. The anti Christ believes in Jesus Christ. America has changed for the worse. I heard Preachers saying, this time was coming. Salvation is a step away. Repent of your sins and ask Jesus to save you and to come into your heart. Before it's to late!!
When you elect a community organizer, with low college grades, who smoked pot and fraternized with real terrorists and religious leaders who "...damn the USA" as President, what do you expect? The worst thing about the Affordable Care Act is that it is the poor who will be screwed the most....and the liberals will feel good about that.
I personally think that no one besides yourself should decide what you can or can't do with your body. Your employer does not have the right to make that kind of decision for anyone. It's not their life to live no mater what religion they believe in. Let him close all of his stores if that's what he wants to do. But that would really show how little that he cares for ANY of his employes if he'd put them all out of a job!!!
I pray to Jesus everyday that folks would have more compassion for women.
In my life I have used birth control for:
1. Controlling extremely painful periods so I could get up and go to work/school
2. Preventing conception when I was going through chemo therapy for cancer at age 29 (a pregnancy would have very dangerous for me & the baby)
3.Creating a family! Birth control is used to prepare for an IVF cycle because chemo left me unable to conceive naturally (it's complicated but basically you have first regulate your cycle for the IVF to work correctly)
So, what if I need birth control covered I would have to go to my boss and beg him to cover it for a good reason? And paying for it myself would have really been a burden, do you have any idea how expensive cancer & IVF are? Medical decisions are about a woman, her family, her doctor and God. Leave it alone Mr Hobby Lobby.
There is no "moment of conception." It is a process, filled with many potential pitfalls, including fertilization of an egg that has lost its nucleus, fertilization of a normal egg by multiple sperm (look up molar pregnancy). To read more about fertilization abnormalities, read: http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/human_reprod/lectures/fertilization/
I truly stand and support his decision. The Government is trying to take over our freedoms. If he built his company around his strong Faith and beliefs, then why should he settle and not stand for what's right. If God could lay down his life for us, then this man can definitely lay down a company for God. Powerful!!!
Anonymous,with such knowledge ,that you seem hell-bent and determined to show to everyone, why then can't yo identify yourself?If you are the GREAT SAGE of Wisdom ,WHY THEN DO HIDE BEHIND Anonymous? If one is brave enough to cast aspersions against another ,then STOP HIDING,FACE THE DRUMMER YOU PROVOKE.
Praying with you that you succeed in getting this passed.It should be anyone's freedom to do what they want to do as far as birth control or contraceptives or whatever it might be.Where has the United States gone too and the christians need to take a stand on their religious freedom's.We don't need anyone telling us what is right or wrong if we read the Bible we already know.God bless you all and hope you succeed in your lawsuit..
Good riddance to Hobby Lobby. Why you would not want to take care of your loyal employees seems cold and in-Christianlike. You also seem rather antis emetic
Perhaps YOU ARE THE PROBLEM. Close you stores and leave our community please. Your employees can do better elsewhere.
He's not misinformed. He believes life starts at conception (the moment the egg is fertilized.) Birth control pills do not prevent conception, they make it almost impossible for the fertilized egg to adhere to the uterus thus denying it the chance to be connected to a blood supply. That blood is required for continued life. This causes that life to die, or aborts that life. Abortion.
It would be VERY sad to see Hobby Lobby close. However... to stand up for your beliefs and be a voice for Christians across the United States is a greater call. I won't like having to give up one of my favorite stores but I am happy that you are choosing to do the right thing. As an American these days, I have felt as though my voice is being crushed because I am a Christian. It's hard to have a voice when you are humble to God's ways and living in a small town. I am proud of you willing to sacrifice for the Lord...
Now for all of you out there who want to argue my statement; remember that you have a voice... let me have mine. I am not pushing ANYTHING on you. But you have forced much on me by taking away my rights simply because I am Christian. Most Christians do not run around with spoons full of righteousness and handcuffs... making you swallow God's message. But as the laws of our country continue to liberalize; you DO force me to eat your opinions of things that are opposing to my beliefs and the beliefs of many others. Why is that right for a free country??
God bless Mr. Green and his family!
You will be in my prayers... as will all of those of you who have responded to this... even those of whom I disagree with.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Without his company, ie his beliefs, there would be no Hobby Lobby, I.e. no job. He can do whatever he wants....he owns the business.
As a loyal customer for many years, I LOVE your stores! However, as a Christian I support your position 100% on the government mandate. Keep trying to do what is right. As you know, you and your company will be blessed by God.
I don't know about Hobby Lobby, but when my place of employment offered me health insurance it was with the understanding it came out of my paycheck and it barely covers the essentials. He is required to provide a health plan, the employees can decide if they want to take his or get insurance somewhere else, and they pay for their own plan out of their paycheck. And on top of that, he can choose what plan he offers. There are plenty of health plans out there that don't cover birth control. Nobody has asked him to pay for someone's "abortion causing drugs." All he has been asked to do is provide some sort of health care plan for his employees, who are not required to take it if it doesn't have the coverage they want.
But aside from that, things like the morning after pill aren't just used by people who "can't keep their legs closed." If an employee at his store is walking home late at night and is raped, should she not have access to a drug that will prevent her from becoming pregnant with her rapist's baby? Just because none of us have experienced it doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and it's not his place to judge.
It's his company, he can do what he likes, these are his beliefs, etc... I just think more time should have been spent looking for alternative solutions before we decided on law suits as our best choice.
True Christians follow Jesus' example and do not meddle in politics. But those who have taken the Roman Saturnalia and have the audacity to call it the "birthday of Lord" and insist that others do the same can allow any number of incursions into their belief system. This is a thinly veiled attempt to bash the current president...who isn't going to be around that much longer anyway. These political activist merchants are already supporting a "corrupt, godless system" by buying their products from China. I don't understand the "righteous indignation".
Follow your beliefs and stand upon them. A very rare idea in America today.
...or a government demanding what kind of insurance it's citizens have to have?
Life does not begin at conception because the egg is not fertilized at conception. Call it principle if you'd like, but it's not factual.
If it's this companies belief to be against such things, why should they be forced to follow it? They're NOT saying the employees CAN'T do it... just that they're not PAYING for it. Why persecute them for their religious views... yet NOT complain that there are others (Amish, Muslims)who DON'T have to obtain insurance under obamacare because of THEIR religious views & choose to take care of things themselves & NOT seek outside medical attention. There is NO difference between the two & Hobby Lobby shouldn't have to be forced to do it
What's to stop his employees from just purchasing these drugs with their paychecks? Wouldn't this also be paying for drugs that "might cause abortions"? What's the difference between him paying an employee who uses their paycheck to buy these drugs and him paying for an insurance plan for an employees that can then be claimed against for the same drugs?
In both circumstances, the money that pays for the drugs comes from his pocket.
Does he also have the right to dock employee pay if he doesn't agree with how they spend their money?
If you ask me, this is one of the rare cases where Obamacare actually looks really good. What his employees do on their own time with their own pay (which health benefits are a part of, mind you) is their business and he has _NO_ business attempting to dictate what they can and cannot do.
One thing that bothers me about some of the comments here is that "the employees deserve to have him pay for their contraception." Why does he not deserve to spend his money any way he wants--he made it? He is not telling his employees how to spend their money. He is only saying he is not paying for something that is against his principles. If they want an abortion he is not saying they can't work for him if they have one.
This mentality of someone needs to take care of me/them drives me crazy!! God gave you the ability to take care of yourself. He is willing to help you if you ask him, so quit trying to make it someone else's responsibility. Stop trying to make the government your god.
And please allow those who disagree with you the right to do so without disparaging them. If you disagree then please present a winning argument as to why you believe the other is wrong. Anger will never win converts.
Whether this article is true or not, my daughter works there and it seems that all the employees are quite happy with their jobs. They pay more than any other retailer in town. Let each employee take that "extra" money and spend it how they please instead of the business spending it on contraceptives for them all, that most probably won't use.
It is the life force from the man to the woman that is wasted and stopped. Not scientific biological mumbo jumbo that we are against. If you knew your bible, you would know the story of Tamar and why contraception (the word itself should be enough of an explanation) is contrary to Christian belief and God's plan for life. We are procreating a spritual life. Contraception prevents that new creation. It is as integrated in our belief as murder is wrong. If the public majority or some scientist had evryone convinced it was ok to kill, with no standard, nor basis, such as the bible, every moral belief then is subjugated to the popular whim. At least respect the rights granted by our constitution to life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness, freedom of expression, religion, and freedom to know the government cannot infringe on those rights. When contraception becomes a life threatening emergency, then I would agree to a life for a life. I should not have to pay for pleasure pills to stop the consequence of child bearing whether before or after conception. It is CONTRARY to the bible.
He is not misinformed. The egg IS fertilized at conception. How do you think a baby is made? Birth control prevents a fertilized egg from adhering to the cervix thus causing a life to be aborted from the body! I was raped 13 years ago and carried the child. I know have a beautiful 12 year old son! If someone can't raise a child then they can put it up for adoption. No life should be thrown away!
What courage that took, Tasha, to carry the child! How admirable! And God blessed you with a beautiful son.
We are so quick to take matters into our own hands and to decide what we think is best for ourselves but God has said he will make all things work together for our good if we love Him. If we would believe His word how much pain and suffering could be avoided in this world. And if it wasn't avoided--as in the rape--it can be redeemed. That's one reason, I'm sure, He said to give thanks in everything because He can see the end from the beginning.
Thanks for sharing.
It is amazing how people who don't even properly understand how pregnancy works, presume to be able to make decision that have a direct impact on it's employees. Birth control and abortion are two different things and the morning after is birth control, not abortion. It can take up to 6 days for sperm to fertilize the egg.
"The egg IS fertilized at conception." Correct. Which can happen up to 6 days after intercourse. The morning after pill however prevents conception from happening in the first place, just like the regular pill. (aka birth control)
"Birth control prevents a fertilized egg from adhering to the cervix thus causing a life to be aborted from the body!" Wrong. That would be the abortion pill. Not birth control.
My prayers are with this company and business family. Hobby Lobby is my favorite store and I shop there frequently. The staff are always kind and helpful. May God bless you!
In the book "God Owns my bussines" most Christian people will understand the decision of the CEO of Hubbby Lobby.
I agree with him and I know because God is always faithful all the emplowees will have a new job.
Only those who knows God will understand that. People see with theirs "flash eyes" and several Christians ones see this situation with spiritual eyes.Bible says , in the end of this world we, christians would be hated, but as our dear pastor Billy Grann says: "my home is in he
heaven. I'm only traveling to this world. May the peace of God stays with everybody.
Adriana, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
I applaud Mr. Green for standing firm on his Christian principles. I, too believe that life begins at conception... when the sperm unites with the egg. I'll stand with Hobby lobby against a government that trends on our religious freedom.
Wonderfully put Country Girl.
It makes me wonder why "anonymous" doesn't reveal his/her identity. It's easy to put down another when you don't' have the guts to openly do so.
It's not a matter of having the same belief. It's about paying for your own products to cover up your mistakes in birth control. No, I don't need to hear about in cases of rape or incest. As unfortunate the circumstances we're still talking about a life. I am blessed with a son because a young couple choose life and adoption.
How does this even relate to the topic?
I am sorry, but you have been misinformed on how Plan B works. As a Christian belief, we believe life begins at conception. Plan B inhibits implantation. So a life has been created at conception, but not allowed to live by inhibiting the implantation or gestational period. By definition that is abortion. Lookup the drug Plan B, it will tell you the mechanism it works. If you are already pregnant before unprotected sex it will not harm the already implanted embryo, but will not allow another conception to implant. I have worked as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and was misinformed by my trainer as to the full mechanism of action of Plan B. Once I was completely trained, I could no longer be a part of this type of work. Many people make excuses for doing what they do, but someday we will all be accountable.
I think this guy is just worried about his bottomline like every other CEO and doesn't want to insure his employees because of costs. Maybe his religious beliefs has something to do with it, but I bet it's the money that is more important to him.
King Obama is a sociopath, Marxist communist dictator who has trampled on the constitution, and destroyed the two party system of government in America. The leftist socialist democrats have stacked the deck with the destruction of the filibuster, allowing them to get their own judges appointed to the courts to give the decisions they want. Procreation was a gift to mankind by God. That process begins at conception. the lame argument posed by the leftist liberal "Anonymous" carries no logic and is only the rantings of a fool who has not yet learned the reality of truth. "God is not one to be mocked. Whatever a man is sowing, this he shall also reap." If someone builds an apartment building, and decides to knock it down because the government says he has to rent to prostitutes or pay exorbitant fines, he has a right to knock it down; IT BELONGS TO HIM. IT'S HIS PROPERTY. HIS CHOICE!!!! This man built a business, he can do whatever he wants to do with it!!!!! The entire earth will soon be enslaved by a one-world-government, but it's rulership will be short-lived. God promises "The meek shall inherit the earth, and find their delight in the abundance of peace." Christianity WILL come under attack, however, the word of God states: "Raise your head erect, your deliverance is near."
Christian integrity is the one thing that the heathen government cannot take away from faithful Christians.
Plan B emergency contraception is made of Levonorgestrel, a type of synthetic Progesterogen. It does not prevent implantation.
"The primary mechanism of action of levonorgestrel as a progestogen-only emergency contraceptive pill is to prevent fertilization by inhibition of ovulation. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has issued a statement that: 'review of the evidence suggests that LNG [levonorgestreol] ECPs cannot prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. Language on implantation should not be included in LNG ECP product labeling.' In June 2012, a New York Times editorial called on the FDA to remove from the label the unsupported suggestion that levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pills inhibit implantation."
His belief that emergency contraception drugs cause abortions does not change the fact that they do not. Just like if I were to believe that the Earth was flat would not make it so.
His other objection is to providing IUDs. I can tell you from experience that there are times when an IUD is medically necessary.
About a year ago, my wife was finally able to get a job that provided insurance. She was able to see a doctor who finally provided her with a diagnosis for a heart problem that she'd experienced intermittently most of her life. Apparently, one of the chambers of her heart was enlarged. This had led to an arrhythmia and high blood pressure. According to the doctor, getting pregnant now would be very high risk.
She is currently working to get her blood pressure down to the point where she does not need to take pills for it, but it is a long process. Until that time, it is essential that she not get pregnant. Unfortunately, most forms of birth control available will increase her blood pressure. The progesterone only form of the pill has a high failure rate, and even using a condom is not without risk of it breaking. This left her with two options:
1) Remain 100% celibate for the next 2-3 years, despite being married;
2) Get implanted with an IUD (specifically Mirena).
As a couple that enjoys the physical act of love, we jointly decided that the IUD was the best decision, and despite some occasional discomfort (her periods that she is now skipping were much more painful), it has proven to be so. Our relationship has never been stronger now that there's no panicking over missed pills or prematurely ending intimacy due to being out of condoms, and it has strengthened her resolve to get healthy enough to have a baby.
I think some people are missing the point of this post which is that Mr. Green has the right to believe whatever he chooses. It also follows that he has a right to not pay for, or participate in, those things that are against his beliefs. It is still a free country--even though our freedoms are quickly being taken away. He is not asking his employees to agree with him--only to pay for those things themselves if they want them.
I have absolutely no doubt that God exists and that at the end of our lives we will give an account to Him of how we lived on earth. You can choose to not believe this but that doesn't change the fact that it's true. Nevertheless, you have the right to what I consider a wrong belief and can refuse to participate in anything that goes against your convictions i.e. going to church, tithing, taking communion, etc. Why are people so quick to expect Mr. Green to compromise his values when he obviously believes this, too, when they aren't willing to compromise theirs?
I say lets go back to the old adage of 'live and let live,' take our noses out of other people's business, and instead devote our energies into being the best we can be.
I will continue posting stories of people I find who are doing that--just like Mr. Green who has built a multi-billion dollar business by not compromising his convictions. I am impressed. We need to follow his example--not criticize his beliefs.
It's funny how hypocritical this is. Don't you Christians believe in that "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" thing anymore?
The reality is that there is a chemical that causes a woman not to ovulate, and this guy doesn't want to pay for it. Why? Because he believes he should control the sex lives of his employees, as he knows better.
Think about that for a minute. He's complaining about Congress passing a law (but let's all blame the president because we failed civics), and his main complaint is that he has to pay for a specific type of birth control, siting his religious freedom to control whether or not women have the right to emergency contraception.
They have places like that... go open your Hobby Lobby in 3rd-world Africa, where condoms are evil and AIDS is rampant. They too believe that condoms aren't medical; they are a sin. At least Hobby Lobby would be among the same loony company.
Spin this all you want -- this is David Green, a man who has a successful business, and saying he would rather close all of his shops if he doesn't maintain the "right" to influence the sexual activities of his employees.
Sorry,Mat, but I believe you are missing the point of Mr. Green's letter. He has not tried in any way to influence the sexual activities of his employees. He is casting no stones. If you are feeling convicted you might want to take that up with God.
If you decide to eat cow dung, Mr. Green would allow you to do that, too, but he would probably refuse to pay for airlifting it to you, since I assume you live far away from its' source, because he personally doesn't believe eating cow dung is good for you. Mr. Green does not feel 4 of the 20 kinds of birth control listed are good for you either (or at least not good for the child that may have been conceived) so he is not willing to pay for it. If you love cow dung--go buy it for yourself--as his employees are able to do with the birth control that Mr. Green refuses to pay for. It is a free country. Stop trying to force others to agree (& pay) for your lifestyle.
This is the most thoughtful and intelligent rebuttal I've read so far.
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