Illinois Gov. Sued Over Discrimination Against Pro-Life Pharmacists
The hypocricy plays on..and on...and on.....
Not only do some Americans LOVE abortion on demand, now they want to FORCE people to HELP? Where is the "CHOICE" for these pharmicists?
Illinois Gov. Sued Over Discrimination Against Pro-Life Pharmacists
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 13, 2005
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich now faces a lawsuit over his executive order requiring pharmacists in the state to fill all legal prescriptions for any drugs -- including birth control or morning after pills that some pharmacists believe cause abortions.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a pro-life law firm, filed suit in state court on behalf of two pharmacists who say dispensing such drugs violates their moral beliefs. They contend they should not be required to participate in the abortions the drugs may cause or to contribute to a customer's sexual activity.
The ACLJ lawsuit says the Governor's order is unenforceable and lawsuit urges the court to overturn it.
The lawsuit also points to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which allows Illinois health care providers to not participate in medical services about which they have a moral objection.
Francis J. Manion, a senior ACLJ attorney said Blagojevich's directive "is not only legally flawed but it puts pharmacists in the untenable position of having to choose between adhering to their religious beliefs and violating a law that could cost them their jobs."
"The religious beliefs of those in the health care industry must be protected," said Manion. "The pro-life pharmacist who chooses not to dispense abortion producing drugs should not face punishment and discrimination for abiding by those convictions."
Blagojevich's office responded to the lawsuit, saying it "will vigorously defend a woman's right to get her prescription for birth control filled without delay, without hassle and without a lecture."
"If a pharmacy wants to be in the business of dispensing contraceptives, then it must fill prescriptions without making moral judgments," Blagojevich said on Wednesday, according to a CNS News report.
Peggy Pace and John Menges, two registered pharmacists who will not dispense the morning-after pill or Plan B medication because of their religious, moral, and ethical beliefs brought the lawsuit. Both believe the drugs can act as abortion agents.
Both work for retail pharmacy stores and they join other pharmacists who say they will not dispense such drugs.
Blagojevich's order takes effect for 150 days while his administration pursues putting a permanent rule in place.
The ACLJ filed legal papers with the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Springfield, Illinois.
Related web sites:American Center for Law and Justice - http://www.aclj.org
Not only do some Americans LOVE abortion on demand, now they want to FORCE people to HELP? Where is the "CHOICE" for these pharmicists?
Illinois Gov. Sued Over Discrimination Against Pro-Life Pharmacists
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 13, 2005
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich now faces a lawsuit over his executive order requiring pharmacists in the state to fill all legal prescriptions for any drugs -- including birth control or morning after pills that some pharmacists believe cause abortions.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a pro-life law firm, filed suit in state court on behalf of two pharmacists who say dispensing such drugs violates their moral beliefs. They contend they should not be required to participate in the abortions the drugs may cause or to contribute to a customer's sexual activity.
The ACLJ lawsuit says the Governor's order is unenforceable and lawsuit urges the court to overturn it.
The lawsuit also points to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which allows Illinois health care providers to not participate in medical services about which they have a moral objection.
Francis J. Manion, a senior ACLJ attorney said Blagojevich's directive "is not only legally flawed but it puts pharmacists in the untenable position of having to choose between adhering to their religious beliefs and violating a law that could cost them their jobs."
"The religious beliefs of those in the health care industry must be protected," said Manion. "The pro-life pharmacist who chooses not to dispense abortion producing drugs should not face punishment and discrimination for abiding by those convictions."
Blagojevich's office responded to the lawsuit, saying it "will vigorously defend a woman's right to get her prescription for birth control filled without delay, without hassle and without a lecture."
"If a pharmacy wants to be in the business of dispensing contraceptives, then it must fill prescriptions without making moral judgments," Blagojevich said on Wednesday, according to a CNS News report.
Peggy Pace and John Menges, two registered pharmacists who will not dispense the morning-after pill or Plan B medication because of their religious, moral, and ethical beliefs brought the lawsuit. Both believe the drugs can act as abortion agents.
Both work for retail pharmacy stores and they join other pharmacists who say they will not dispense such drugs.
Blagojevich's order takes effect for 150 days while his administration pursues putting a permanent rule in place.
The ACLJ filed legal papers with the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Springfield, Illinois.
Related web sites:American Center for Law and Justice - http://www.aclj.org
posted by Straight Up with Sherri at
9:27 PM
8 Comments:
Since they work for a pharmacy chain, we should get the corporate headquarters phone number and let the HQ know there are people who support the stand these pharmacists have taken; could help from having their jobs threatened.
By
Anonymous, at 11:29 PM
Christian Scientists are essentially against all forms of modern medicine. What happens if a pharmacist converts to a Christian Scientist and starts refusing to fill all scripts? Should he be fired? Is that religious discrimination? Should he be compelled by law to comply with prescriptions?
If your answer to the above is "well that's just going to far"...then where exactly do you draw the line?
By
Anonymous, at 12:43 AM
- I have a better question Striker. Just exactly when did the Laws of America change along with business policy and public right to unbiased service change and allow us to bring our peronal beliefs to the workplace and start discriminating. Oh I remember now. It was born in the late sixties with the advent of "consciencous objecters" and the rise of relativism, wherein we all get to make our own rules, and organized society degrades into anarchy. Be careful what you wish for, oh yee liberals. Theres always two edges to every causal sword.....
By
Anonymous, at 2:39 AM
According to this, the female pharmacist works at Jewel Osco, trademark of Albertson’s, Inc., and the store backed her up saying she followed state law and company policy. State Rep Ron Stephens, also a pharmacist, says he will not abide by the order.
By
Anonymous, at 8:34 AM
Striker
Sorry, but it is silly to demand a proffesional to provide anything.
Life-saving care, regardless of ability to pay is about the only thing I can think of that would apply.
What next? Demand that ALL convenience stores carry condoms? All stores offer alcohol? What? All restaurants offer smoking sections or alcohol. If a pharmacy want to refuse certain products- so be it.
Even Doctors are not REQUIRED to offer ALL forms of medical treatment. If one paharmacy won't carry what you want- go to another one. Sheeshk.
I mean not even ALL doctors need to accept Medicare or Medicaid. Not dentist, either. THere are clinics etc, for these things!
GOvernment needs to get out of the business of making it against the law for people to practice their own religious or moral beliefs!
This is not their job.
By
Straight Up with Sherri, at 11:43 AM
SO Ridiculous.... So I guess if I had a birthday party for my 10 year old, and didn't invite my neighbors 10 year old to come, they could sue me! It sounds ludacris and so does this whole issue.
KH
0976
By
Anonymous, at 4:17 PM
According to CBS2 Chicago, pharmacist Pace and Menges each have received an email from their employer that said the Governor’s emergency rule supersedes company policy and pharmacist who violate it would make their license “vulnerable to discipline.”
By
Anonymous, at 8:50 PM
Hi Levi,
I absolutely agree that a practicing CS trying to operate a pharmacy as his own business would be pointless, as he'd be out of business soon enough.
That's why I posed the question the other way -- if a practicing CS is an employee, not the employer. In that situation, is the business owner allowed to fire the CS because he's hurting his sales (of every modern medicine)? Or would it be religious discrimination to fire the CS pharmacist?
The CS pharmacist question is just an extension of the case being presented -- i.e. same issue, just more drugs involved in his moral decision-making. Of course a CS would never choose to become a pharmacist, but a pharmacist might later choose to become CS.
By
Anonymous, at 9:10 PM
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