Sheesh... I wasn't sure whether to post this in Religion or "News" Gosh I hope they aren't the only pharmacy in town



CHANTILLY, Va. (Oct. 22) - A new drug store at a Virginia strip mall is putting its faith in an unconventional business plan: No candy. No sodas. And no birth control. Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy is among at least seven pharmacies across the nation that are refusing as a matter of faith to sell contraceptives of any kind, even if a person has a prescription.
States across the country have been wrestling with the issue of pharmacists who refuse on religious grounds to dispense birth control or morning-after pills, and some have enacted laws requiring drug stores to fill the prescriptions.
In Virginia, though, pharmacists can turn away any prescription for any reason.
"I am grateful to be able to practice," pharmacy manager Robert Semler said, "where my conscience will never be violated and my faith does not have to be checked at the door each morning."
Semler ran a similar pharmacy before opening the new store, which is not far from Dulles International Airport. The store only sells items that are health-related, including vitamins, skin care products and over-the-counter medications.
On Tuesday, the pharmacy celebrated a blessing from Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde. While Divine Mercy Care is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, it is guided by church teachings on sexuality, which forbid any form of artificial contraception, including morning-after pills, condoms and birth control pills, a common prescription used by millions of women in the U.S.
"This pharmacy is a vibrant example of our Holy Father's charge to all of us to wear our faith in the public square," said Loverde, who sprinkled holy water on the shelves stocked with painkillers and acne treatments. "It will allow families to shop in an environment where their faith is not compromised."
The drug store is the seventh in the country to be certified as not prescribing birth control by Pharmacists for Life International. The anti-abortion group estimates that perhaps hundreds of other pharmacies have similar policies, though they have not been certified.

more power to them but i would shop else where i dont like being told how to act or that my beliefs are wrong

I think that was their intention

All I can say is I'm glad I'm not part of their religion Quit tryin to take my right away to NOT be pregnant Even if I am married, doesn't mean I wanna have a truck full of kids.

They are going to have more citizens in their town in 9 mths.

I agree they have the right to do it. And they are entitled to their beliefs. Just like I am with mine...

I hope they sell car seats

Maybe that's where they'll be making their money from.

There's more to the article... oops

Earlier this year in Wisconsin, a state appeals court upheld sanctions against a pharmacist who refused to dispense birth control pills to a woman and wouldn't transfer her prescription elsewhere. Elsewhere, at least seven states require pharmacies or pharmacists to fill contraceptive prescriptions, according to the National Women's Law Center. Four states explicitly give pharmacists the right to turn away any prescriptions, the group said.
The Virginia store's policy has drawn scorn from some abortion rights groups, who have already called for a boycott and collected more than 1,000 signatures protesting the pharmacy.
"If this emboldens other pharmacies in other parts of the state, it could really affect low-income and rural women in terms of access," said Tarina Keene, executive director of the Virginia chapter of the National Abortion Rights Action League.
Robert Laird, executive director of Divine Mercy Care, believes many of the estimated 50,000 Catholics within a few miles of the store will support its mission and make up for the roughly 10 percent of business that contraceptives represent in a typical pharmacy.
Whether Catholics will be drawn to the pharmacy is uncertain. According to a Gallup poll published last year for an extensive study of U.S. Catholicism called American Catholics Today, 75 percent of U.S. Catholics said you can still be a good Catholic even if you don't obey church teachings on birth control.
Catherine Muskett said she plans to shop at the drug store even though she lives more than 20 miles away.
"Obviously it's good to support pro-life causes. Every little bit counts," said Muskett, one of about 75 people who crowded into the tiny shop for Tuesday's ceremony.

Humm just makes you wonder are they planning on taking care of all the un-wanted births. I doubt it prevention is much better then one having to find other means when they find out they are pregnant. Don't think they actually took the time to consider all the reasons for Birth Control very well.

I can't believe I live in Va. sometimes. Believe me this state needs all the birth control it can get.

Taking away their options does not equal abstinence. ESPECIALLY the condoms... it's not just pregnancy they prevent. Also the spread of STD'S.

Not to mention that hormonal BC has a lot more important medical uses than preventing pregnancy.

Bleh. If you can't do the job, then you should not be a pharmacist. That wouldn't fly in any other job.

sweet you all want to chip in and open a huge baby depot next door will be millionairs in ohhh 10 months

No doubt. I know many girls and women that take BC for medical reasons that have NOTHING to do with pregnancies.

They arent taking away your right not to get pregnant. They are just exercising their right to conduct their business as they see fit.

If you were a vegetarian and had a restaurant that didnt serve meat, would that somehow infringe on my right to eat it?

Pingpong - how would that not fly in any other profession. Are you telling me if they were mechanics they couldnt choose what kind of cars to work on. If they were lawyers they couldnt choose what kinds of clients to take. If they were doctors they couldnt specialize with specific patiients.

Somehow it appears you guys seem to have birth control confused with emergency medicine.

Eating meat or not does not have a major impact on my life, finances, and health.

i totally see your point but if your a vegan i dont think you can be raped or have a tubal pergancy, last i checked you cant die from someone refusing to serve you beef, pork or chicken

They are however taking away my right to have reduced periods, cramps, backaches, and all the other fun stuff that come with periods. Many many many women take birthcontrol to control their periods. It has nothing to do with not wanting to get pregnant or not.