Hobby Lobby files lawsuit against HHS mandate

Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., a privately held retail chain with 22,500 employees led by a Christian family, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, opposing the Health and Human Services "preventive services" mandate, the company announced Wednesday. The company becomes the largest and only non-Catholic-owned business to file a lawsuit against the government's contraception mandate.

The company's CEO and founder, David Green, said Wednesday that the mandate would force the Christian-owned-and-operated business to provide, without co-pay, the "morning after pill" and "week after pill" in their health insurance plan, or face crippling fines up to 1.3 million dollars per day.

"We simply cannot abandon our religious beliefs and comply with this mandate," Green said during a teleconference press meeting. "We know that we have been blessed by God's grace and believe it is because we have chosen to live our lives and to operate our business according to His Word and we are very grateful for that. But our faith is being challenged by the federal government."

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HobbyLobbyFAN

Hurray for Hobby Lobby. Love that store. It is great and closed on Sunday. Whoopee
- Chris
  
  Full of Chinese junk that deprives American workers of jobs just so that Christians, who are too lazy to make stuff of their own, can have "premade" crafts. It's 95% plastic crap and junk.
  Pure materialism.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    Because of the liberal government, the present as well as that of past years have made it so hard to make a prophet, it has caused American companies to move to China and other places. The result is foreign made items by the million are in these stores.
Chris

Yes the Hobby Lobby leaders want to force their wacko religious beliefs on medicine on their workers – forcing them to get substandard health coverage based on made up views that are not universally held or scientifically supported.

By extension – if this passes then an employer who believes that he belongs to a witch doctor religion will only allow witch doctor health care.

This is wrong – totally wrong – forcing your unsupportable ideology into other people's health care.
- http://www.facebook.com/petertimothycooper Peter Cooper
  
  Very strange comment, the forcing is the other way. As was made clear in the article. A re-read needed methinks.
- JD
  
  No it is wrong for the government to try and force employers or people pay for something they do not believe in, and the co-pay for drugs are still part of any health care program and it is the doctor and persons seeing him choice what to do.
- http://www.facebook.com/richard.scott.777158 Richard Scott
  
  No they are not you God hating socialist
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Judy-Pratt/100000914897467 Judy Pratt
  
  You have no idea what you are saying, They are not saying they are going to dictate…that is the government saying they will dictate. The problem is the government does not have that right. This is not a dictatorship (yet). You sound like one of those freebies people or a gimmee groupy… why should everyone expect the government or your place of business to supply their employees with free services. THAT IS BULLSH-T! Get a grip…pay your own way…if you want the morning after pill….then pay for it,..if you don't need to screw around then you don't need it. The public as a whole owes you NOTHING!
- A.
  
  Chris, your uninformed postings only display your utter ignorance. No one is forcing the Christian ideology on any one, they are simply trying to prevent Obama and his left wing dictatorship from forcing theirs on the rest of us. And if you don't think Obama is a dictator review all the Executive Orders he has unleashed to bypass Congress. Even some in his own party have voted against some of his nonsense.
  - Chris
    
    You are talking complete rubbish. Hobby Lobby IS forcing its religious crazy on its workers – I'm sorry that you are too dumb to understand that. If they believed in witchcraft – they'd give you that crazy too.
- pogramma
  
  That's what is wrong in our Country today! The idiotic twisted way you Progressive Commies think. The government has no right to force us to do or pay for something we feel is morally wrong. Problem is you progressives have no morals, no faith, no nothing! Guess that's why you are always crying for us to pay for you. DREAM ON PAL!
- Tig
  
  Unsupportable? The Bible? God's Holy Word? Please take the time to read some of it. It will
  change your life.
- fliteking
  
  Oh, is that Chris again?
  
  I thought the neighbors dog had left me another "gift" .
  
  It is often hard to tell the difference. Many similarities.
- cyoder
  
  Employees are not forced to work there. Hobby Lobby is not forcing anything on them.
Sharon

I'm going to spend my money at Hobby Lobby!!! Let's get behind them and support them not just in Word but Deed too!! God bless you Hobby Lobby!!!!!
Smith

Go Hobby Lobby! If all Christian owned businesses would stand for what they know to be right (Chick Fil-A anyone?) others would see their faith/guts and follow suit! We have to stop letting the government dictate what we, as privately owned business can and cannot do!
- Tig
  
  Yes, we were among those who visited Chick-Fil-A and we went 3 times that day and several times since. Lines around the block. And now my art supply business is going to go to Hobby Lobby. There is a huge one close to us. God bless Hobby Lobby
  - Chris
    
    So you support homophobia and cheap Chinese labor
    - Evermyrtle
      
      Chick-Fil-A is not the only business that uses good and honest people who can and will work for a living. Of course liberals are not choosey when they choose the things they gripe about, truth, lie, any old thing will do, lying of course, is best..
JD

Everyone that believes in the word of God should be going after the government for it's out wright disregard for what the people want.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/QHRUML5XFH7AMSWH63TQH7F7E4 MalikTous

What's the actual non-overtaxed cost of the contraceptives? The stuff should be available at a nominal price. but not as a tax prepaid give-away. I don't object to contraceptives or to people's individual choice to use them or not; I do object to government trying to manage them!
- Chris
  
  You prefer the crazy religious to set the rules? No thanks. They only read one book.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    What do you religious sect do you choose?? We see so many of your irradical comments, maybe it is the fault of your church.
daves

Why did they wait until now to file their lawsuit and why don't they wait to find out how the other lawsuits go? I hope they have to pay court charges if they lose.

I believe the lawsuits will fail because they still have options. They don't have to employee people (following the law is part of doing business in the US) or they don't have to provide insurance.

One other reason they will lose is that insurance companies are required to cover contraception, not Hobby Lobby.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YRJJ7XYJIMFYUTJ5KXUFR3ZEFE Ken Kirkham
  
  If you think the "insurance" companies are the ones covering the costs you need to go back to school. Perhaps when Obama loses and conservatives take over both houses they should mandate that you should pay for my medical care. Maybe you would then see the folly of Government mandates.
  - daves
    
    It is paid for by individual insurance premiums. In essence we all pay for each others medical care by buying insurance.
    - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
      
      daves: Insurance companies don't force us to buy or pay for coverage we don't want and are opposed to. It is the government that is the problem, not insurance companies.
    - Bighoss
      
      Watch it, Dave. What you just posted might impel hordes of readers to conclude that just by being insured and paying premiums in a group plan, they too are contributing to infanticide. They could then instigate a suit against HHS in their own behalves.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Judy-Pratt/100000914897467 Judy Pratt
    
    I agree with you! good response! All these loyal idiots need to pay for their health insurance plus a couple of others since they approve. The government's DUTY according to our Constitution is to provide a monetary system and defense for our country…they ARE NOT to dictate to us personally. Time to get back to our Constitution and kick out the idiots that want to control every area of our lives.
  - pnutsugar
    
    Yeah…good luck with that…lol!
- A.
  
  Why don't you just stop posting your asinine comments. You really have nothing to say and every time you post something you display your ignorance!
  - daves
    
    You mean I should post really intelligent comments like the one you just did?
    - sandi leighann
      
      He is right, you are ignorant and cannot see the truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and only He can make you free. In "A.'s" defense, your comments are clearly not factual whatsoever. Besides, who cares when and where they place their lawsuit, that is their decision. Why would they wait to see how the other lawsuits end up? I can tell you why, because they don't care how the others turn out because they are intelligent enough to know that this is a government mandate which is NOT consititutional which is why Obama was forced to call it a tax. These are the facts, not opinions. I am a Christian and will be supporting CFA, Christian Bookstores and Hobby Lobby and any other Christian store that stands up for the truth.
    - fliteking
      
      That is exactly what he means.
- http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
  
  daves, they are not contraceptives, they are abortion pills. Anyone with half a conscience should be opposed to infanticide. Hobby Lobby is certainly within their rights to file a lawsuit to keep from being forced to provide something that causes death.
  
  This insane government overreach, courtesy of the liberals, must be fought tooth and nail or one day we will all wake up to a totalitarian government whereby we won't be able to do anything without government approval. Thank God that Hobby Lobby is willing to take a stand.
- fliteking
  
  daves said : "
  One other reason they will lose is that insurance companies are required to cover contraception, not Hobby Lobby."
  
  Duh.
  
  Why didn't you just state "My name daves, I b gullible and believe everyting my King says".
  
  Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Let me say it a few more times for you daves, just keep reading . . . maybe it will sink in . Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage. Hobby Lobby pays for the insurance coverage.
  
  Anything? No? You have set a new definition for the word "Obtuse".
  - daves
    
    Hobby Lobby does not pay for the insurance. The employee pays for it with her labor and her share of the premium.
Frier

Hobby Lobby is very correct in placing their lawsuit against this HHS 'mandate'. May millions of others understanding the U.S. Constitution join! States and Churches are correct to expunge this tyranny.
- Chris
  
  We want the tyranny of religion to go away. No more stupid.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    Do you know any words that would be more appropriate, that would sound better than "stupid?" It is a word that Christians seldom use, because it reflects on the one using it!.
  - Bertie
    
    "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'."
wattsupstupid

I am so proud of Hobby Lobby and doubly so as both my son and daughter-in-law work there. They have moved up in the company because they are hard workers. I always told them that a company that obeys God's commandment of the Sabath does a better business than those who stay open.
- Chris
  
  Congratulations – lousy salary – poor benefits and they are supporting the Communists in China
  - wattsupstupid
    
    ya well Chris where we live Hobby Lobby has one of the better paying jobs. Not everyone makes $20.00 an hour and Unions have pushed prices so high that most regular people can't afford to live. I guess you like obamas spread the wealth around whether you work yourself or not. I would rater work for a less salary than to take the gov handout that puts you into slavery and dependent on gov. At least my children are willing to work.
Old Observer

I sure miss my Hobby Lobby since moving to an area where the nearest one is two states away! i did not know they were Christian-owned, only that they were the best source of craft items ever! The govt should not be passing rules like this–birth control should be a matter of personal responsibility–not careless sex-as-you-please with no protection. My tax dollars should not be spent on someone who gets pregnant in a one-night stand, etc—there are more devious reasons behind this than people realize–check the birth rates of muslims and other immigrants against ours and you'll get a glimmer-of a changing demographic!
- HobbyLobbyFAN
  
  In the event you do not know, you can order online from them. They also, will send you their ads online and they have a coupon which can be used in store or online. You can print their coupon to use in store. There is a code for online coupon. They have the best Christmas ornaments and you can use your coupon and many times they have so many items on sale for 40% or more off. I love this store. Even the Halloween items are cute, not gory. Such great selections of so many items for all year.
Greatnews

You go, don't let the liberals push you around. This is still the USA, and we don't have to stand for there baby killing rules. We will stand with you until we get back our Christian heritage. AMEN
- http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
  
  It's still the USA now, but if this insane liberalism goes on unchecked, it will soon be the USSA. I agree that we must return to our Christian roots and run this nation in a way that honors God, or God will be perfectly justified when He destroys the USA for its flagrant disobedience
  - Chris
    
    The religious are the insane ones. Still believing in a wacko sky god that doesn't answer their prayers or solve anything.
    - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
      
      God solved the problem of bringing a universe into existence, so I would hardly say He is incapable of solving anything. And there are many recorded instances of prayers being answered, both in the Bible and in modern recorded history.
      
      Liberalism does nothing but slowly destroy a nation from within, as it steals resources from productive areas of the economy, and gives those resources to unproductive elements. It steals freedom by imposing greater and more intrusive rules and regulations upon businesses and individuals, until finally the entire nation either collapses in a financial Armageddon or the populace rises up in rebellion and forcefully removes the liberal scoundrels who ruined the nation.
    - Evermyrtle
      
      Truly, Satan's angel, nobody else but one of his angels would be so crass to make such wild lying statement.
    - wattsupstupid
      
      Chris again you speak of things you have no knowledge of. You are anti God, anti, morals and anti anything that is good or uplifting. I feel sorry for you, you must be a very unhappy person. You say God doesn't answer prayers man are you ever so wrong in that statement. I have had many prayers answered that could only be from God. You know Chris it is hard to kick against the pricks and you know in your heart that God exists but you are allowing satan to rule you as it is easier to just live an immoral life and pretend that you will not have to answer for the things you do well you know you will and all the lying you do
G. Edward

God bless Hobby Lobby! May their battle be successful (the battlefield is the courtroom for now)!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Judy-Pratt/100000914897467 Judy Pratt

BRAVO for Hobby Lobby! I will make sure anything they have that I want to buy I will purchase from them. A TRUE American Company with American beliefs. I hope they keep up the good work! GOD BLESS YOU HOBBY LOBBY! and God Bless the United States of America.
- Chris
  
  "A true American Company" – what a joke. They sell Chinese crap.
  You people are so ignorant of the world around you.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    You don't have anything you can do besides make sarcastic comments? You sound very bored!!
  - wattsupstupid
    
    Ya and so does Walmart, KMart, Sears, Kolhs and every other company in this country and no it's not right but don't just blast one when they are all doing it and you and I are just as much to blame as we buy the stuff because we have to live. Tell the Gov to stop importing and give the companys the breaks they nelstimued to bring their business' back to the USA. The stimulus that obama got to help build company's here all went overseas and he wants more where will he send it this time not to America you can count on that. Chris I think it is you who have your head in the sand and are ignorant to the world around you.
GWjr

My wife goes to Hobby Lobby, and we're very pleased to have them here! I went there once to help choose some material for a chair being reupholstered, and the atmosphere was very nice.
If you want to patronize them, but are not a crafts person, and not on a diet, they have a pecan-nougat roll that is excellent, better than Stuckey's IMO, up near the checkout counters, hopefully all their stores carry it.
silvernotes

Yeah, another with a backbone of conviction…..I'll be looking for Hobby Lobby to spend my money at!
pogramma

Thank God for the "Brave" in America! Kudos to Mr. Green, I'm a frequent customer but will be even more frequent now! I just wish other religious denominations would join the Catholic Church and brave men like Mr. Green, the more there are the more powerful our statement is!
Colo43

Amen!
MontieR

Every aspect of this ILLEGAL mandate violates some portion of the constitution or the bill of rights or just common sense. We NEED insurance reform AND tort reform NOT this nightmare.
Pat

YOu can tell that Hobby Lobby follows it faith by being closed on Sundays. How many stores can say that. They don't pick and choose from the bible what they want to follow. God bless them.
- R Sava
  
  Chik-Fil-A.
  I support both with my dollars whenever feasible.
http://www.facebook.com/rebeccavhelton Rebecca Helton

Go Hobby Lobby! Mardel's is also part of their chain, and I'm sure part of the lawsuit. They are a wonderful company.
- Chris
  
  Yeh Mardels sells books that lie about science.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    Have you read a lot of them? If you haven't you should read them before analyzing them.
Sharon

Chris, we agree it's wrong to make someone take something against their conscience, we as bibically base thinkers desire the same respect, Go buy what you want in your healthcare package and stand with us in the right to do the same!!
- Chris
  
  The employees would NOT get that choice if Hobby Lobby gets its way. If the owner believed in witchcraft then he would say there was no need for ANY coverage. This is a nasty rathole that you clearly cannot see. Most Catholics use birth control despite what their misogynistic white guy Pope tells them.
  - Pamela
    
    Chris, the store is not saying that they don't want their insurance to cover birth control, such as bc pills, preconception. And, most protestant Christians are not anti-preventative birth control. However, the drugs mentioned in this article are not simply birth control to many. They are basically abortion pills. And while I am not saying that the government should or should not make this practice legal, (although I do have an opinion, that is not the issue at hand.) I do not believe that i should, as an employer or as an American, have to pay for someone else to terminate their pregnancy. Current employees of Hobby Lobby understand the principles of the ownership and so do potential employees. As Americans we can choose where we apply for work. And, we can choose what we do in the privacy of our homes. Employer-provided insurance should cover medically necessary drugs and procedures, not electives. Perhaps the insurance industry should create an "elective medical procedures" policy that would include things like plastic surgery, and the above mentioned, post-conception instant abortion drugs. Then, if you want them, it's up to you…but someone else is not forced to pay for something they cannot support. Everyone has the right to believe what they choose to believe, Including Christians. For us, being transformed by Christ, whether you understand it or not, is the very fiber of our being…no we are not perfect…but we cannot change who we are once we have really had our eyes opened. And I don't even expect you to get that…but that doesn't change it. Bottom line is, I won't ask you to pay for my anointing oil, and non-christians don't need to ask me to pay for their pregnancy termination pills.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
    
    They can buy their own contraceptives and keep their mouths shut. Regardless, I fail to see how they would be at a loss by being unable to contracept.
Evermyrtle

You cannot handle it alone Put it into GOD'S hands and let HIM hear you say that you trust HIM and will do whatever He tell you to do, and trust HIM completely..
lel

Way to go. Go to Hobby Lobby as often as we can.
- Chris
  
  Yeh for materialism and Chinese outgassing plastic crap.
Tig

Go! Hobby Lobby. I am going to turn all my business towards Hobby Lobby. As a professional artist, craft kit manufacturer, and graphic designer, so I use a lot of supplies. We will see you Saturday. :) God bless you.
- Chris
  
  Thanks for your support of Communist China.
giley1

Further attacks by the Obama mandates on religious freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stand firm Hobby Lobby we Christians are behind you 100%
fliteking

I the past our household has spent a couple thousand a year at Amazon, in the future we will make it POLICY to check Hobby Lobby's online store first, and buy there whenever possible.
Doug

I've been trying to get a job with Hobby Lobby for over a year. The store in my hometown only hires students from a local christian college.
http://profile.yahoo.com/HFMELPJ2QU37W53K2TKL4HJQGM Ted

Good for them; I hope they win it.
Stealth

Go Hobby Lobby!! Together we will be rid of Obumma and all of his Anti-Christian (Anti-Christ )
policies, laws etc!!
Marilyn K. Smith

The difference between the "morning after" pill and the "week after pill" and true contraception is that the pills destroy a human life. True contraception prevents forming of life. Either one is letting a human being decide whether another human being can be born.
stevo

God bless Hobby Lobby and those persons!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Malinda-Slatten-Neal/1076794106 Malinda Slatten Neal

I support Hobby Lobby with my shopping and my prayers.
Evermyrtle

There are millions of Conservative Christians in America who are on your side. Just keep up the good work. It seems that our liberal government would be glad that you are giving 22,500 people work, something that they can't do, but I bet they take credit for the fact that these people have jobs.
http://profiles.google.com/kkhercules kevin kelly

good for hobby-lobby,courage in the face of evil.SEMPER-FI-MARINES
SemperFi1976

Hey! This is a violation of "Church and State"! The "State" needs to get out of the "Churches" business! Don't impose YOUR values (or lack there of) on me, Mr. "State"!