David Green

Since the birth of our nation, religious liberty has laid the foundation for America to become the freest society in the history of mankind.

This spirit of freedom began when the pilgrims fled to the New World to practice their faith freely. It continued when America’s founding fathers ratified the Bill of Rights, which begins with the declaration that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It was strengthened when Congress almost unanimously adopted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, ensuring that interests in religious freedom are protected. And it thankfully endured through the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.

At issue in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby was the Affordable Care Act’s Health and Human Service Mandate, which would have required our family business to provide and facilitate four potentially life-terminating drugs and devices in our health insurance plan, against our religious convictions, or pay severe fines of $1.3 million a day. Unlike the 16 contraceptives we do provide, these four drugs can take effect after conception, which is where we believe life begins.

Just as religious liberty laid the foundation for America, my family’s Christian beliefs laid the foundation for our business. First and foremost, as Christians, we are called to love people. As individuals and business owners, we try our best to be true to that calling. We provide excellent benefits to our 30,000 employees and a starting wage for full-time hourly employees that is more than double the federal minimum wage. We have also donated half a billion dollars to philanthropic endeavors. Our Christian beliefs also guided my family’s decision not to pay for the termination of life.

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Fortunately, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby in 2014, but it’s frightening to think that we — and all Americans — were just one judge away from losing our religious freedom. Make no mistake, the vacancy left by Justice Scalia and the subsequent appointment to fill his seat makes this presidential election one of the most significant in modern times. During a 2015 speech at the Women in the World Summit, Hillary Clinton declared that religious beliefs “have to be changed.”

What I fear she really means is that the beliefs of people of faith across our nation will be discounted, and those people will be forced to violate their conscience under her presidency — a philosophy that would be carried out by anyone she nominates for the Supreme Court.

The Constitution was created for the express purpose of protecting certain fundamental rights — not just when they’re aligned with the current administration’s policies, and not just when they’re convenient — but as the highest priority for our lawmakers and elected officials.

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Clinton has made no secret she believes government interests supersede the protection of religious liberty.

In contrast, Donald Trump has been steadfast in expressing his commitment to uphold the Constitution, and his list of possible Supreme Court nominees inspires confidence that there is hope in my future — and in my grandchildren’s future — for a country that will value those most fundamental rights.

America’s foundation of religious liberty is already at risk. With Hillary Clinton as president, our foundation will surely crumble. For Americans who value freedom of religion, we must elect a president who will support a Supreme Court that upholds not only this freedom, but all that have emanated from it. That president is Donald Trump.

David Green is the CEO and founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

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