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Hobby Lobby CEO open letter: “Honoring God is more important than turning a profit”
Hotair ^ | 01/05/2013 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 01/06/2013 8:26:47 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Normally I'd be inclined to run something like this on a Sunday, when I like to explore more faith-based topics. However, today is Hobby Lobby Appreciation Day, where consumers who support the Christian ownership's stand against the HHS mandate that attempts to impose a highly restrictive definition of religious expression can put their money where their mouths are. Since I don't really have a hobby at the moment, I'll instead offer a passage from the open letter written by Hobby Lobby CEO David Green, who explains why he's decided to spend a lot of money and risk even more to fight the HHS regulation that would force him to act against his religious principles.

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.

It’s worth pointing out that the mandate doesn’t exempt actual religious organizations either, such as Catholic charities, Presbyterian hospitals, Lutheran schools, and so on. Why? That’s the crux of the issue: the Obama administration is attempting to redefine religious expression to only those activities which take place within the four walls of a place of worship, or those activities restricted only to those of a single faith. That means that Catholic hospitals would qualify only if they refused to treat and employ any non-Catholics, for instance. Can you imagine those lawsuits?

The mandate for free birth control, which is already cheap and readily available for anyone who wants it (and has federal subsidies for Medicaid recipients already in place through Title X), is just a Trojan horse in an attack on religious liberty — and even more, for freedom of choice. If businesses want to offer “free” birth control (which will get funded by premium hikes), they can already do so; no one is stopping them. Same for schools, hospitals, and private citizens who want to donate money to family-planning clinics on their own. Barack Obama and Kathleen Sebelius want to strip that choice from Americans and force everyone to subsidize the procreative choices of everyone else, even those tens of millions whose religious beliefs have heretofore never had to be part of public policy. That’s the invasion of privacy, and it’s people like David Green who are being exploited.

Update: Added a bit to the second-to-last paragraph, and also wanted to include Hobby Lobby’s online shopping website link. You can support the company from the comfort of your own home.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: davidgreen; hhs; hobbylobby; hobbylobbyletter; mandate; obamacare
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1 posted on 01/06/2013 8:26:52 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Never really cared to shop at Hobby Lobby, but looks like I’ll have to go back and see if I can find anything there I like to help support this company.


2 posted on 01/06/2013 8:30:58 AM PST by EnigmaticAnomaly (Dim Logic: "Let me vote Democrat. Hey, I got screwed! Let me vote Democrat. Hey, I got screwed!")
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To: EnigmaticAnomaly

ABOUT HOBBY LOBBY:

Type: Private

Industry: Retail

Founded: August 1972

Headquarters: Oklahoma City, OK

Key people:

David Green (CEO)

Jon Cargill (CFO)

Revenue: US$ 2.28 billion (2011)

Employees: 21,000

Website HobbyLobby.com


3 posted on 01/06/2013 8:36:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

For those who don’t know:

Hobby Lobby is a privately held retail chain of arts and crafts stores based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, and is formally called Hobby Lobby Creative Centers.

The company was founded by David Green on August 3, 1972, and as of August 2012 the chain has 514 stores in 41 states. Hobby Lobby headquarters are located in a 3,400,000-square-foot (320,000 m2) manufacturing, distribution and office complex.

Affiliated companies

Mardel - a Christian bookstore chain
Hemispheres - a home furnishings company
Crafts Etc! - a craft wholesaler and online retailer
H.L. Construction - which handles the construction and renovation of Hobby Lobby stores
Ethnographic Media - formerly Bearing Fruit Communications - an advertising agency
Hong Kong Connections - Chinese sourcing and buying office


4 posted on 01/06/2013 8:38:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

In September 2012, Hobby Lobby sued the United States over new regulations requiring health insurance provided by employers to cover emergency contraceptives, stating that, “The Green family’s religious beliefs forbid them from participating in, providing access to, paying for, training others to engage in, or otherwise supporting abortion-causing drugs and devices.”

However, their appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, and as of 31 December 2012, the company faces fines of up to $1.3 million per day for violating provisions of the Affordable Health Care Act (AKA OBAMACARE !!)


5 posted on 01/06/2013 8:39:16 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Dang it, I wish they’d start selling something besides the stuff they already sell. I’ve bought something from them several times in the last month, but they really don’t have a lot of stuff my wife or I need.

Wish they’d throw in a couple of rows of appliances or something like that.

I’m ready to do some REAL voting with my pocketbook. Plus the more money I can spend there, the less goes someplace else. If we could find enough retailers with the ‘attachments’ to stand up for what they believe in - and reward them handsomely with sales - things might really start changing!


6 posted on 01/06/2013 8:41:14 AM PST by I cannot think of a name
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To: I cannot think of a name

RE: Hobby Lobby CEO open letter: “Honoring God is more important than turning a profit”

A fine of $1.3 Million a day will quickly bankrupt Hobby Lobby (unless the courts support their freedom to practice their faith <-— FAT CHANCE OF THAT WITH THIS SUPREME COURT).

I suspect that if they have no recourse, they could either:

1) Sell their business.
2) Relocate to another country.
3) Refuse to conform and go to jail for the cause they believe in (making them modern day martyrs).


7 posted on 01/06/2013 8:46:45 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

And just what exactly will happen if they don’t pay he 1.3 million dollar a day fine?

Will Obamas henchmen come to take them away or just have them executed on the spot?

It’s time to stand up against these fu**in tyrants once and for all. If it results in a showdown between them and us, then so be it.

If they want a war then we should give them one. Screw this running crap!


8 posted on 01/06/2013 8:48:18 AM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
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To: SeekAndFind
I saw this letter posted on Facebook and some of the comments were sickening. Some people commenting even had the gall to say Hobby Lobby was forcing it's employees to accept the founders religious beliefs, that access to free contraception and abortion was a "right" and that the Hobby Lobby founders should "suck up" and accept Obamacare's dictats.

We are seeing the Bill of Rights brazenly being torn up in front of us starting with both the First and Second Amendments.

9 posted on 01/06/2013 8:48:49 AM PST by The Great RJ
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To: unixfox
"Will Obamas henchmen come to take them away or just have them executed on the spot?"

Executed on the spot. Assets will be transferred to Eric Holder's brother-in-law, and to Van Jones. Welcome to Zimbabwe.

10 posted on 01/06/2013 8:55:37 AM PST by Lockbar (Quality Factory Loaded Ammunition ------ The New Gold)
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To: I cannot think of a name

I do not know if Hobby Lobby sells gift cards or not but that might be an option for you and your wife if they do indeed sell them... buy gift cards and give them as gifts.

Could ya use a couple pair of scissors or some needles and thread ? How about some glue or glue guns. Rubber cement ?

I can think of all sorts of things in my local Hobby Lobby that I could purchase that I dont need right at the moment but know I will need them in the future ~ GRIN~


11 posted on 01/06/2013 8:57:46 AM PST by simplesimon (NEVER forget Benghazi ~!)
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To: unixfox

My post was as serious as a heart attack. We’re going to be replacing our refrigerator soon, and honestly, if I could get one someplace for $1200, and Hobbly Lobby was selling them for $1500, I’d buy there.
To save this country we’ve tried darn near everything except concentrated pocketbook firepower. Fortunately my wife and I have lived a modest life and we can afford it. Every time I see a store expressing any kind of Christian idea in their advertising, I save it. If I could make EVERY dollar I spend go only to morally upright companies I would - even if it meant paying more.

The one thing I have noticed is that the people that have the most fundamentally sound and moral ideals, also tend to be the more financially solvent. If ALL of our money could go to the right companies, the others would soon be forced take a side or perish.


12 posted on 01/06/2013 8:58:07 AM PST by I cannot think of a name
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To: simplesimon

“Could ya use a couple pair of scissors or some needles and thread ? How about some glue or glue guns. Rubber cement ?”

That’s the kind of stuff I HAVE bought there in the last month or so. But I spend a lot more than that, and I want it to go only the right kinds of companies.

Example: we’re going to be replacing one of our cars this year Even though I have my preferred brands for technical reasons, if a manufacturer spoke up against zero’s nonsense, the ongoing attempts to make perversion normal, or any of the other secular liberal nonsense - I’d buy from them!

We need to be able to start channeling SERIOUS dollars towards moral companies. On lots of the big ticket items, it’s hard to figure out if there are any moral companies anymore.


13 posted on 01/06/2013 9:04:50 AM PST by I cannot think of a name
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To: SeekAndFind

My daughter and I went yesterday and she spent about $80. We love that store, event before we knew they were a Christian company.


14 posted on 01/06/2013 9:41:52 AM PST by ilovesarah2012
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To: SeekAndFind

Went to our local Hobby Lobby yesterday, bought stuff, place was packed!

With Domino’s getting a temporary pass against Obamacare

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2973844/posts

I’m hoping Hobby Lobby will be able to ditch it altogether!
Green is fighting the good fight and I’m glad I could support in my own small way.


15 posted on 01/06/2013 10:03:58 AM PST by Southern Magnolia
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To: SeekAndFind

A new Hobby Lobby store is due to open at
5555 E Broadway Blvd, Suite 131 Tucson AZ, 85711
(520) 512-0242

It will be interesting to see how well it goes over in LibTucson.


16 posted on 01/06/2013 10:47:59 AM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: SeekAndFind

2013 New Stores Opening Later This Year

Tucson, AZ : 5555 E Broadway Blvd, Suite 131 : Opening date to be announced later.

Sacramento, CA : 1874 Arden Way : Opening date to be announced later.

Upland, CA : 420 South Mountain Ave : Planned opening day is 02/01/2013.

East Haven , CT : 68 Frontage Road : Opening date to be announced later.

Clermont, FL : 1375 Sandy Grove Avenue : Planned opening day is 02/15/2013.

Holyoke, MA : 50 Holyoke Street : Planned opening day is 02/22/2013.

Duluth, MN : 1734 Mall Drive : Planned opening day is 02/15/2013. : View Map

Morehead City, NC : 5167 Highway 70 W, Suite 90 : Planned opening day is 03/15/2013.

East Wenatchee, WA : 10 Grant Road : Planned opening day is 03/01/2013.

Federal Way, WA : 35020 Enchanted Parkway S : Opening date to be announced later.


17 posted on 01/06/2013 10:54:31 AM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: I cannot think of a name

Your thoughts are generous indeed, and you’re right that we should be spending money at conservative, Christian-owned companies. But even if you bought a refrigerator there and everyone else on FR did too, and we went back and bought another refrigerator every day, that would not keep Hobby Lobby in business. There’s no way they’d have enough extra money to keep paying $1.3M a day in fines.

As far as I can see, they have a few alternatives:

1. They can cut all their employees back to 29.9 hours per week so they’re excluded from the need to pay for health insurance that meets the standards of the mandate. They would have to hire a lot of additional people to take up the slack, and would be harming many of their full-time employees.
2. They could make all their employees contractors, for whom they have no responsibility to provide health insurance. I’m told this is not legal in a retail environment.
3. They could try to comply by giving their employees vouchers to go out and get their own insurance.
4. They could ignore the fines and let the government sue them, which could take awhile.
5. They could declare bankruptcy and wait to be bought by some company that doesn’t have their moral values.
6. They could just close their doors and put 21000 employees and tens or hundreds of thousands of dependent suppliers out of work.

If there’s another way of avoiding this while remaining in business, I haven’t thought of it, but I’m sure the Green family would be open to suggestions.


18 posted on 01/06/2013 11:16:31 AM PST by ottbmare (The OTTB Mare)
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To: I cannot think of a name

Your thoughts are generous indeed, and you’re right that we should be spending money at conservative, Christian-owned companies. But even if you bought a refrigerator there and everyone else on FR did too, and we went back and bought another refrigerator every day, that would not keep Hobby Lobby in business. There’s no way they’d have enough extra money to keep paying $1.3M a day in fines.

As far as I can see, they have a few alternatives:

1. They can cut all their employees back to 29.9 hours per week so they’re excluded from the need to pay for health insurance that meets the standards of the mandate. They would have to hire a lot of additional people to take up the slack, and would be harming many of their full-time employees.
2. They could make all their employees contractors, for whom they have no responsibility to provide health insurance. I’m told this is not legal in a retail environment.
3. They could try to comply by giving their employees vouchers to go out and get their own insurance.
4. They could ignore the fines and let the government sue them, which could take awhile.
5. They could declare bankruptcy and wait to be bought by some company that doesn’t have their moral values.
6. They could just close their doors and put 21000 employees and tens or hundreds of thousands of dependent suppliers out of work.

If there’s another way of avoiding this while remaining in business, I haven’t thought of it, but I’m sure the Green family would be open to suggestions.


19 posted on 01/06/2013 11:16:46 AM PST by ottbmare (The OTTB Mare)
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To: SeekAndFind

Imagine the stupidity of believing that destroying a $2.8 billion company is the right thing to do because otherwise people might have to pay $9 a month for birth control pills.


20 posted on 01/06/2013 11:19:09 AM PST by Mr. Silverback (Don't worry about the cliff. We're going to all land on some rich guy's wallet.)
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