Hobby Lobby CEO: Christians Will Lose Their Religious Freedom if Donald Trump Isn’t Elected

National   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Sep 2, 2016   |   3:46PM   |   Washington, DC

David Green knows first-hand how much Americans’ religious freedoms are in jeopardy.

In 2014, the Christian CEO of the craft store chain Hobby Lobby was forced to go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to find relief from the Obamacare HHS Mandate, which required him to pay for abortion-causing drugs and devices in his employee health insurance plans.

Green wrote a column published in USA Today on Thursday explaining why Donald Trump “is our only hope” for the future of religious freedom. He pointed out how so much is at stake involving the U.S. Supreme Court. The next president could have the opportunity to nominate up to four justices and sway the court’s decisions for years to come.

Green wrote, “… 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.”

However, that power in the hands of pro-abortion Democrat Hillary Clinton could bring an end to religious freedom in the U.S., Green wrote. His own religious freedoms were protected by a narrow majority two years ago.

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Green explained:

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.

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

Back in February, Clinton promised to nominate U.S. Supreme Court justices who will ensure that Roe v. Wade and abortion on demand up until birth remain the law of the land for years to come. She also wants to force American taxpayers to pay for abortions.

Trump’s position is a stark contrast to Clinton’s. Recently, Trump announced a list of 11 potential Supreme Court nominees — a list pro-life and conservative groups praised for having potential judges who would be Constitutionalists. His pro-life running mate, Mike Pence also assured voters that Trump will nominate justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade.

A number of pro-lifers and conservatives remain doubtful about Trump because of some of his past statements, and Green used to be among them. The Christian Examiner reports Green did not support Trump early in the presidential race. Green previously endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s campaign for president and said Trump “scares me to death.”

However, Green now believe that Americans like himself who value religious freedom and our right to life should support Trump.

“America’s foundation of religious liberty is already at risk,” Green wrote. “With Hillary Clinton as president, our foundation will surely crumble.”

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