Pharmacist says her firing followed Planned Parenthood boycott threat

Published: 2006-02-07

ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- A pharmacist at a Target store who had religious objections to dispensing the morning-after pill was fired from her job after Planned Parenthood threatened to boycott the chain, according to Americans United for Life. Target's corporate communications department in Minneapolis said the company "never failed to accommodate" the religious beliefs of pharmacist Heather Williams. It said that company policy, formulated without any involvement by Planned Parenthood, required all pharmacists to ensure that prescriptions to which they objected were filled by another Target pharmacist or at another pharmacy. Target called the statements made in a news release by Americans United for Life "completely inaccurate and misleading." Williams has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her attorney, Ed Martin Jr. of Americans United for Life, told the St. Louis Review, archdiocesan newspaper, that she is considering further action in state and federal courts. Martin said the case shows the need for a law to offer conscience protection for pharmacists.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .