• Local Hobby Lobby Store

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - After the Supreme Court reached a 5 to 4 vote in favor of the Hobby Lobby Contraceptive case on June 30, Co-Founder Barbara Green issued the following statement to the public:

"We are truly thankful for the decision that allowed us to continue operating our family business according to our principles. And one of those principles is gratitude, and we are deeply grateful to our employees, to our customers, to the many many individuals from all walks of life who have shown their support through word, action and prayer."

The Hobby Lobby Corporation felt that it was within their right to deny healthcare coverage for preventative contraceptive items, and went before the courts to fight it.

Of the 20 different types of birth control, there were four the Greens felt were not acceptable within their religious freedoms.

Among those include, IUD's, the day after pill and the week after pill. Their belief is that life begins after conception, and those four types of birth control effect the egg fertilization process.

Members within the Meridian Township community had mixed feelings on the decision.

"As a legislator, an attorney and a mother of two girls who's spent my career fighting for women and our rights, I find this ruling to be an absolute disgrace and reinforces the importance of electing leaders who are willing to stand up for women," said Senator Gretchen Whitmer.

Community members also voiced their opinions.

Sue Boss of Kalkaska said, "I think it's a wonderful thing that it was passed that they did not have to provide a service that they do not approve of nor do they believe in."

However, Alyse Maksimoski felt a different way.

"Not all women use birth control and contraceptives and IUD's for preventative purposes," Maksimoski said. "A lot of them use them against ovarian cysts to prevent cancer, to prevent infections and to regulate their periods for blood flow reasons, it's not specifically for contraceptive purposes."