Curtis Riskey, president of the Christian Booksellers Association, writes a very good column about the critical U.S. Supreme Court case, Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby, which centers around the ObamaCare mandate that seeks to force Hobby Lobby to pay for abortion-inducing drugs for its employees — which violates the owners’ religious beliefs.
For hundreds of years, Christian-owned companies have been woven into the fabric of our community life, not only from a religious perspective but also from a values-driven desire to do good and bear one another’s burdens. Many of these companies support food programs and homeless outreach services, adoption support, crisis pregnancy centers, prison rehabilitation programs, women’s shelters, rescue missions and many other community services. They contribute to social care and promote the moral values of their faith by contributing selflessly to the community. Frankly, the America we have known and love wouldn’t be the same without them.
With their values-driven outreach, Christian-owned businesses have demonstrated the positive economics and moral stability in a capitalistic system that is good for America.
Capitalism when guided by the values of a Christian-owned business is a part of what makes America exceptional.
I believe the writer’s conclusion is true, but I also believe every American has the right to believe that is not true. The freedom to believe — or not to believe — is fundamental to who we are as Americans — at least until ObamaCare. If the Obama administration prevails in this religious freedom case, there will be no limit to government’s power to mandate its values over yours.
