Friday, December 21, 2012

CHRISTIAN COMPANY TO BE FINED MILLIONS


As a Christian Attorney, I find that living out faith sometimes puts you at odds with the world’s systems.  Hobby Lobby, a Christian company, has learned that too. In fact, they might be fined up to 1.3 million a day until they capitulate and compromise what they believe!

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals will not stop the Obama Care rules and egregious daily fines that will hit the private company if they do not violate their faith by covering abortion-causing drugs. The Christian owners say this is an unconstitutional mandate that infringes their right to earn a living while remaining true to their faith.

Hobby Lobby is pro-life, and simply refuses to pay for the morning-after pill, an abortion-causing drug. In the Courts’ ruling, they found that the mandate will not "substantially burden" Hobby Lobby’s religious freedom.

This will now go to the U.S. Supreme Court, if they accept the case. There are at least forty others heading that way.  But, they will not rule on the greater issue of the mandate, they will only rule on a temporary reprieve for Hobby Lobby.

Hobby Lobby has over 13,000 full-time employees in more than 500 locations, including Memphis.
They are known for full-page ads proclaiming Jesus’ birth at Christmas and His resurrection at Easter, and being closed on Sunday, as is a similar Christian company, Chic-Fil-A. This is the statement of purpose Hobby Lobby openly publishes on their website:

Statement of Purpose: In order to effectively serve our owners, employees, and customers the Board of Directors is committed to:
Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles.
Offering our customers an exceptional selection and value.
Serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals, and nurture families.
Providing a return on the owners' investment, sharing the Lord's blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.
We believe that it is by God's grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, and we trust Him for our future.

I hate to see our government, however well intended, run roughshod over sincerely held beliefs of Christian organizations like this. And, it never seems to be against those of other faiths like Islam, but only against Christians.  As for me, I am cheering on Hobby Lobby and Chic-Fil-A—we need more born-again job creators in this country who stand up for what they believe! Lets hope the Supreme Court agrees.