Diocesan Resources
The Right to Practice Faith in Business (2019)
The Right to Practice Faith in Business USCCB Fact Sheet
The Green family began what became Hobby Lobby Stores, a retail chain of arts and crafts stores, out of a garage in the family’s home in Oklahoma. The Hahn family began Conestoga Wood Specialties, a cabinet-making business, out of a garage in the family’s home in Pennsylvania. The Greens are evangelical Christians who strive to operate Hobby Lobby in a manner consistent with biblical principles. Hobby Lobby pays full-time employees at almost double the minimum wage, offers generous health benefits, and allows employees ample time off from work. The Hahns, who are Mennonite, similarly strive to operate Conestoga Wood in a way that honors their faith. Both the Hahns and the Greens believe that life begins at conception, and their religious beliefs prohibit them from facilitating abortion.
Unfortunately, a mandate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) tried to compel the Greens and the Hahns to cover certain drugs and devices that can end life after conception. Coverage of these drugs and devices was required in the companies’ health plans under threat of severe fines by the federal government.
The Greens and the Hahns were forced to sue the federal government to vindicate their rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal law to exercise religion. They argued that Americans do not give up their freedom when they open family businesses.