Pharmacists' Right of Conscience Moves to the Supreme Court

Two pro-life pharmacists in Illinois have been granted legal permission to challenge Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s executive order that forces them to dispense emergency contraception, commonly known as “the morning-after pill,” against their will. 

In 2005, the pharmacists protested against being forced to fill orders for the drug.  They argued that the governor’s action violated deeply held religious convictions as the drug can act as an abortion-causing agent.   

The Illinois Supreme Court said the religious objections of the pro-life health professionals must be taken into consideration and concluded that the governor’s order has a real and direct impact on pro-life health care professionals. 

Similarly, Advocates has been involved in a "right of conscience" case for over six years, Benitez v. North Coast Women's Care Center.  We are defending two Christian physicians who specialize in fertility treatment and were sued by an umarried, lesbian woman alleging they discriminated against her because of her "sexual orientation."  In actuality, the physicians referred the patient to another medical clinic because they were opposed to artificially inseminating any unmarried woman because of their religious beliefs. America's First Amendment grants all individuals a constitutional right to exercise their faith in the workplace and elsewhere.

This information is provided by Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a non-profit religious law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty in the courts!  To help us in our ongoing battle for religious freedom, click here to donate to Advocates.