New Va. pharmacy won’t sell any contraceptives - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 10-22-2008, 08:34 AM

MSNBC.com

New Va. pharmacy won’t sell any contraceptives

Store follows Roman Catholic teachings; some fear impact on rural women

Pam Semler, of Fairfax, Va., works the register at DMC Pharmacy in Chantilly, Va. on Monday, Oct. 20. The pharmacy bills itself as "pro-life" and carries no contraceptive products.

The Associated Press

updated 3:07 p.m. PT, Tues., Oct. 21, 2008

CHANTILLY, Va. - 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.”

Drawing scorn
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.

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.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

MonarC · 10-22-2008, 10:05 AM

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 10-22-2008, 10:44 AM

lulz I love the birth control ad at the bottom of my page as I'm reading this.

Althrough I don't agree with it, I don't see the problem. Let them do what they want. As long as there are other places to get birth control in the area, it shouldn't be a problem for people.

Chocoholic · 10-22-2008, 03:08 PM

It's their right to do it. It is a free country. People are free to shop elsewhere.

Doodyville10019 · 10-22-2008, 03:09 PM

That's cool. I'm sure there are loads of drugstores that sell the contraceptives and stuff like that (even the candy and sodas) that this one won't really be too financially broken.

It's also a perfect example of what Buffalo Bob Smith talks when he told the peanut gallery (and viewers) about "the freedom to worship the way you wish, anytime, anyplace". I think that's a pretty cool idea!

bandito · 10-22-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

lulz I love the birth control ad at the bottom of my page as I'm reading this.

Althrough I don't agree with it, I don't see the problem. Let them do what they want. As long as there are other places to get birth control in the area, it shouldn't be a problem for people.

I couldn't agree more.

bandito · 10-22-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChesneyLady

It's their right to do it. It is a free country. People are free to shop elsewhere.

sunshinefizzy · 10-22-2008, 07:25 PM

I guess most of the drugs they carry are the ones with the side effect of decreased sex drive.

LoveMrsG · 10-22-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshinefizzy

I guess most of the drugs they carry are the ones with the side effect of decreased sex drive.

I do agree, though, that it is a free country and it's their pharmacy, so what they choose to sell and what they choose not to sell and why is their own business. But I also agree that what you said just now is hilarious!

littlebelle · 10-22-2008, 11:54 PM

I'm Catholic, and I believe in contraceptives totally.

Schmoopie · 10-23-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshinefizzy

I guess most of the drugs they carry are the ones with the side effect of decreased sex drive.

That was pretty funny!

Interesting that the store won't sell contraceptives. You'd think that they would look down upon teen pregnancy and pregnancy of single women. But maybe I'm just old-fashioned.

Andrea

sunshinefizzy · 10-23-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveMrsG

I do agree, though, that it is a free country and it's their pharmacy, so what they choose to sell and what they choose not to sell and why is their own business. But I also agree that what you said just now is hilarious!

Thanks!!! It's weird the harder my life is, the sharper my wit gets. Well, I do believe that they can do what they want. Just don't expect certain people to go there.

veggie-tari-jenn · 10-25-2008, 02:56 AM

I dont agree with them but it is what it is...and they can do whatever they want...I wouldnt shop there and I am sure many others wouldnt either.

...but thats why there are many places to shop to accomodate everyone.

10-22-2008, 08:34 AM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	New Va. pharmacy won’t sell any contraceptives MSNBC.com New Va. pharmacy won’t sell any contraceptives Store follows Roman Catholic teachings; some fear impact on rural women Pam Semler, of Fairfax, Va., works the register at DMC Pharmacy in Chantilly, Va. on Monday, Oct. 20. The pharmacy bills itself as "pro-life" and carries no contraceptive products. The Associated Press updated 3:07 p.m. PT, Tues., Oct. 21, 2008 CHANTILLY, Va. - 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.” Drawing scorn 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. 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. © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

10-22-2008, 10:44 AM	#3
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	lulz I love the birth control ad at the bottom of my page as I'm reading this. Althrough I don't agree with it, I don't see the problem. Let them do what they want. As long as there are other places to get birth control in the area, it shouldn't be a problem for people.
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

10-22-2008, 03:09 PM	#5
Doodyville10019 Meet my new friend Sparkie! Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 08, 2008 Location: Competition Square, located in Doodyville Park Posts: 877	That's cool. I'm sure there are loads of drugstores that sell the contraceptives and stuff like that (even the candy and sodas) that this one won't really be too financially broken. It's also a perfect example of what Buffalo Bob Smith talks when he told the peanut gallery (and viewers) about "the freedom to worship the way you wish, anytime, anyplace". I think that's a pretty cool idea!
	__________________ Hi! Hey! Hello again, here we go again! Last edited by Doodyville10019; 10-22-2008 at 06:30 PM.

10-22-2008, 10:05 AM	#2
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK.

10-22-2008, 03:08 PM	#4
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	It's their right to do it. It is a free country. People are free to shop elsewhere.

10-22-2008, 07:25 PM	#8
sunshinefizzy Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 27, 2006 Location: Craptown Posts: 2,054	I guess most of the drugs they carry are the ones with the side effect of decreased sex drive.

10-22-2008, 11:54 PM	#10
littlebelle Spell Caster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,659	I'm Catholic, and I believe in contraceptives totally.

10-25-2008, 02:56 AM	#13
veggie-tari-jenn SARCASTIC COUPON PRINCESS!! Eternal Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2008 Posts: 1,882	I dont agree with them but it is what it is...and they can do whatever they want...I wouldnt shop there and I am sure many others wouldnt either. ...but thats why there are many places to shop to accomodate everyone.