Hobby Lobby's Faith: A Public Display Of Devotion

The arts-and-crafts store Hobby Lobby was founded by David Green in 1972 to express his evangelical Protestant beliefs. The company incorporates American conservative values and Christian media into its operations, with all stores closed on Sundays to allow employees time for family and worship. Hobby Lobby has also been involved in various controversies and scandals, including accusations of antisemitism, homophobia, and LGBTQ discrimination, as well as attempts to evangelize in public schools and deny access to contraceptives for employees. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby, stating that closely-held corporations could choose to be exempt from certain laws based on religious preferences.

Hobby Lobby's founder and CEO, David Green, regularly references God in company memos

Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green regularly references God in company memos. Green, the son of a preacher, has made a public commitment to "honouring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles".

In a March 2020 memo, Green told employees that he had decided to keep stores open during the coronavirus pandemic based on a message from God bestowed upon his wife, Deborah Green. He wrote that his wife Barbara "is the prayer warrior" and that God put in her head that he would guide the company through the pandemic, guard the company and would groom the company "to be better than we could have ever thought possible before now".

In another memo, Green wrote: "You have not because you ask not. And I think as we ask Him for His advice and His Holy Spirit leading and directing us, I think He will do that; I know He will. As we are serious about wanting to do things God's way, then I think He will start dealing with us."

In a March 2010 memo, Green encouraged employees to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay at home if sick, cover coughs and sneezes with tissue and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily. He also imposed a moratorium on all international travel and non-essential domestic air travel for employees.

Green, a billionaire businessman, has drawn ire for imbuing his religious beliefs into the company and its 900 stores. In a 2017 interview, he said: "How do you have success without being a Christian business? So for us, we've never seen anything that prevented us from being a very profitable, successful company trying to follow Biblical principles."

Hobby Lobby closes its stores on Sundays to allow employees time for family and worship

The arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby closes its stores on Sundays to allow employees time for family and worship. The company was founded by David Green in 1972 to express his evangelical Protestant beliefs, and the chain incorporates American conservative values and Christian media.

Hobby Lobby is unapologetically Christian in its ethos and has been criticised for imbuing its religious beliefs into the company and its 900+ stores. The company website states its intention to "honour the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles". This is reflected in the company's mission statement, which outlines a dedication to Christian principles, and its commitment to establishing a work environment that builds character, strengthens individuals, and nurtures families.

The decision to close stores on Sundays is one of several ways in which Hobby Lobby prioritises its Christian values. The company has also been involved in several controversies, including accusations of antisemitism, homophobia, and LGBTQ discrimination. In one of its most prominent incidents, Hobby Lobby took a public stance against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, citing its requirement that companies provide access to emergency contraceptives and the morning-after pill. This led to a high-profile Supreme Court case, in which the court ruled in favour of Hobby Lobby's right to withhold reproductive benefits from its employees.

Hobby Lobby's decision to close its stores on Sundays is a reflection of its commitment to its Christian values and its desire to allow employees time for family and worship. This decision has been controversial, with critics arguing that the company is imposing its religious beliefs on its employees. However, Hobby Lobby maintains that it supports the individual liberties of its employees and has never made religion a factor in employment.

The company has been criticised for its refusal to cover certain types of contraception in employee health plans

The company Hobby Lobby has been criticised for its refusal to cover certain types of contraception in employee health plans. In 2012, the company filed a lawsuit against the US government, claiming that the requirement to provide health insurance that includes birth control and reproductive care violated its religious rights and beliefs. The company's owners argued that providing birth control was against their Christian faith. They stated that they were "forced to choose between following the laws of the land that we love or maintaining the religious beliefs that have made our business successful".

The case, known as Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, was decided by the US Supreme Court in 2014. The Court ruled in favour of Hobby Lobby, finding that the government could not require certain employers to provide insurance coverage for birth control if it conflicted with the employer's religious beliefs. This ruling applied only to "closely held" companies, which are defined by the IRS as companies where five or fewer people own more than half of the corporation.

The decision had a significant impact on insurance coverage for birth control, with some employers choosing to stop providing coverage for religious reasons. Employees of these companies who use birth control may have to pay for it out of their own pockets, which could lead to some choosing not to use it due to the cost. The ruling was criticised by women's rights groups, who argued that it limited women's rights and autonomy.

Hobby Lobby's refusal to cover certain types of contraception is part of a broader pattern of controversies surrounding the company, including accusations of antisemitism, homophobia, and discrimination. The company has also been criticised for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which it initially claimed to be an essential service and remained open, only to later close all stores and furlough employees without pay.

Hobby Lobby has been accused of antisemitism and homophobia

The Green family founded Hobby Lobby to express their evangelical Protestant beliefs, and the company has been accused of several controversies and scandals, including antisemitism, homophobia, and LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Antisemitism

In 2013, a Jewish customer in a New Jersey store was told by an employee that Hobby Lobby "does not cater to you people". In response, founder and CEO David Green issued a formal apology to the Anti-Defamation League, stating that the company "absolutely [does] not tolerate discrimination". He also clarified that the stores had carried Jewish items in the past and would be testing the market to do so in the future. In 2017, Snopes reported that the claim that Hobby Lobby was not selling Jewish holiday merchandise was "Outdated".

Homophobia and LGBTQ+ Discrimination

Hobby Lobby has been accused of homophobia and LGBTQ+ discrimination. In 2013, the company stated that they would allow their employees to be in same-sex marriages or relationships. However, when donors voiced their disagreement, the statement was revoked. In 2014, Hobby Lobby's executives asked for a religious exemption from nondiscrimination laws regarding coverage of contraceptives and birth control for employees. This culminated in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. Supreme Court case, which granted Hobby Lobby the right to decline birth control and contraceptive insurance coverage based on religious objections.

Hobby Lobby and its owners, the Green family, have also been criticised for donating millions of dollars to the Servant Foundation, which funds anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and the National Christian Foundation, which has been known to donate to groups identified as hate groups. The Green family has also donated to the Alliance Defending Freedom, which has supported efforts to "sterilise transgender individuals" and criminalise gay sex.

The company has been involved in the illegal smuggling of ancient artefacts

The company Hobby Lobby has been involved in a scandal regarding the illegal smuggling of ancient artefacts. The craft store, founded by the conservative Christian David Green, has been embroiled in several controversies related to its religious stance. One notable incident involves the smuggling of ancient artefacts, particularly tablets and clay bullae, originating from the ancient Near East, specifically Iraq.

The scandal began in 2009 when Hobby Lobby started receiving shipments of these artefacts, intended for the Museum of the Bible, which the company was sponsoring. Despite warnings from internal staff and experts about the dubious provenance of the items, Hobby Lobby continued its acquisitions. In 2011, US customs agents intercepted several shipments, triggering a legal battle with the federal government. This culminated in a 2017 civil forfeiture case, where Hobby Lobby was found guilty of smuggling 5,500 artefacts from Iraq.

The company was accused of misrepresenting the artefacts on declarations, falsely labelling them as ceramic and clay tile samples, and providing false designations of origin, claiming they were from Turkey and Israel. The artefacts were shipped to Hobby Lobby's headquarters in Oklahoma City, with shipping labels indicating they were "tile samples". This deliberate mislabelling was done to avoid customs duties and import restrictions on Iraqi cultural property, in place since 1990.

As a result of the 2017 case, Hobby Lobby was required to return the artefacts and pay a $3 million fine. They forfeited over 5,500 artefacts, including the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, an ancient work containing part of the Epic of Gilgamesh. In addition, 3,800 artefacts were returned to Iraq by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2018. In 2020, Hobby Lobby's president, Steve Green, agreed to return another 11,500 artefacts to Egypt and Iraq.

The company's involvement in the illegal smuggling of ancient artefacts has been widely criticised, with some experts stating that Hobby Lobby poured millions into the legal and illegal antiquities market without having a clue about the history, cultural value, and fragilities of the objects. This incident highlights the problematic nature of the antiquities market and the need for greater regulation to protect cultural heritage.

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