Inhofe Statement on Hobby Lobby Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2014

INHOFE STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT HEARING ORAL ARGUMENTS OF HOBBY LOBBY CASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments today in the case of Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.:

“If you restrict those of faith from applying their conscience to the world around them, then you quench the progress of freedom. It is David Green’s faith practiced in his day-to-day business decisions that led him and his family to build a successful, nationwide company. It is this same conscience that compelled Green to guarantee his employees a day off during the week so that it could be spent in their religious communities and with their families. It was also this same belief that compelled Green to care for the wellbeing of Hobby Lobby’s employees, providing hourly wages far above the national average and providing them health benefits before the federal government mandated it. The Obama Administration is attempting to write a new moral code if it is going to tell people like David Green that he no longer has the freedom to apply his faith convictions to how he operates a private business. The case before the Supreme Court is about maintaining freedom for all, and freedom starts by preserving the freedom of religion under the First Amendment, whether it’s being practiced in a temple or public square. Today let us remember the words of President George Washington, ‘We are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious of violating the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men and to Him only in this case they are answerable.’ ”