I'd Support Him
Jan 2, 2013 20:37:58 #
Letter from Hobby Lobby:
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.
** I checked this on Snopes and it is labled TRUE. But of course, we're going to see those that don't believe it shoot it down.
Sarge69
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.
** I checked this on Snopes and it is labled TRUE. But of course, we're going to see those that don't believe it shoot it down.
Sarge69
Jan 2, 2013 21:02:01 #
WOW!!! Thats a very powerful letter. I wish Mr. Green the best of luck with the courts
Jan 2, 2013 21:44:52 #
For what it is worth David Green and family are Mormons. That's why they are closed on Sunday like Chick Filet. I hope he does well in the courts.
Jan 2, 2013 22:35:04 #
Jan 2, 2013 22:41:38 #
sarge69 wrote:
Letter from Hobby Lobby: br br A Letter from Hobb... (show quote)
Hobby Lobby is not a religious institution and therefore must follow the law. It is not a church. I would like to know how many of their employees would actually want birth control. Most of the time organizations that are run by religious families usually attract employees of the same belief structure. If this holds true then why are they fussing? I think they are fussing just to fuss their boy lost in November and they like the taste of loser in their mouths.
Jan 2, 2013 22:44:37 #
Gee, my religion preaches that it's immoral to pay taxes. So I guess I have a right to not file, right? This guy is just full of crap. Plain and simple. If he doesn't like the current law, he has three options:
1. Obey the law
2. Fight to have the law changed.
3. Move to a country where he'd be free to screw his employees out of
insurance coverage
1. Obey the law
2. Fight to have the law changed.
3. Move to a country where he'd be free to screw his employees out of
insurance coverage
Jan 2, 2013 23:18:52 #
To see what he's really made of, I wonder if abortion, day after pills etc etc were out of the mandated health care, would he purchase or make it available for his workers?
Sarge69
Sarge69
Jan 3, 2013 00:10:07 #
BTW, Hobby Lobby lost that case in the Supreme Court. Now let's see if they'll pay the $1,300,000 PER DAY fine they face for not complying. How strong will their religious beliefs be in the face of huge financial losses?
Jan 3, 2013 06:01:03 #
sarge69 wrote:
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.
Sarge69
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.
Sarge69
So poor people are to be denied health care because it might include drugs that some people object to. Is this a case of 'my beliefs on right to life are more important than a persons right to a healthy life? That doesn't sound a very Christian attitude!
Jan 3, 2013 06:04:20 #
jimbo70
Loc: Orange Park, FL.
Why is it non-believers always want to test Christians to see " How strong will their religious beliefs be in the face of huge financial losses?" I guess when you have no beliefs it's easy to criticize those that do. By the way they are Christians not Mormons, big difference.
Jan 3, 2013 06:08:59 #
tschmath wrote:
BTW, Hobby Lobby lost that case in the Supreme Court. Now let's see if they'll pay the $1,300,000 PER DAY fine they face for not complying. How strong will their religious beliefs be in the face of huge financial losses?
I would think that the 1.3 million per day would put them out of business before too long. If I am correct, lets all cheer, those people didn't need those jobs anyway, and those filthy rich people should be poor too. They didn't build that business the government or someone else did.
Jan 3, 2013 06:25:48 #
Michael O'
Loc: Midwest right now
sarge69 wrote:
Letter from Hobby Lobby: br br A Letter from Hobb... (show quote)
Jan 3, 2013 06:30:47 #
jimbo70 wrote:
Why is it non-believers always want to test Christians to see " How strong will their religious beliefs be in the face of huge financial losses?" I guess when you have no beliefs it's easy to criticize those that do. By the way they are Christians not Mormons, big difference.
A persons beliefs are their beliefs - why do we have to bring in religion? It really doesn't matter whether the person is Christian, Mormon, Jehovahs, Buddhist, Atheist, Satanist or any other 'ist you can think of.
Jan 3, 2013 06:31:26 #
Michael O'
Loc: Midwest right now
Had seen headlines but no facts behind thew latest Federal atrocity. Thnx for posting the Hobby Lobby letter and story. They deserve help somehow, God bless 'em !
Jan 3, 2013 07:09:00 #
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