Hobby Lobby won't pay for abortion-causing drugs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A multi-billion dollar arts and crafts chain is drawing some attention for filing a lawsuit against President Obama's health reform.

The more than 500 Hobby Lobby stores across the country play religious music inside. And the family-owned businesses close on Sundays. But one direction the owners want to take the company to upholds their religious beliefs and conflicts with recent national health reform.

Earlier this month the owners of Hobby Lobby asked to be exempt from providing emergency contraceptives, saying it goes against their Christian beliefs.

A federal judge denied the company's challenge, but they've filed an appeal.

CEO David Green released a public letter saying, "...Our family must provide what I believe are abortion-causing drugs as part of our health insurance. Being Christians, we don't pay for drugs that might cause abortions..."

"He has the right to do that, and I agree with him on that," says Hobby Lobby shopper Ronyn Wolfe.

Approaching Christmas, Hobby Lobby is busy with customers in and out. Shoppers have mixed feelings when it comes to company policies on providing emergency contraceptives like the "morning-after pill" or the "week-after pill."

"If he wasn't going to provide birth control or something, that's kind of different," Wolfe said.

"Plan B is not planning," said her friend Lacie Draehn. "I don't think it should be used as a form of birth control."

Others say the debate over medical care versus religious rights is a decision perhaps best made by each individual.

"If I was an employee of Hobby Lobby, I would like to be given choices, and have the decision on me--on my thoughts, my beliefs, and my whole being," said shopper Elvia Angarza.

Hobby Lobby has until January to comply with the mandate, or the company could face financial penalties.