Posted on 02/12/2014 4:43:36 PM PST by ToastedHead
Yesterday, the Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based public interest law firm, together with Nashville area Tennessee attorney Larry Crain, of Crain, Schuette & Associates, filed a federal lawsuit in the Middle District of Tennessee on behalf of Pharmacist Dr. Philip Hall against the Walgreen Company. The complaint alleges that, in August 2013, Walgreens wrongfully fired Hall, who had been employed for six years as a pharmacist at Walgreens' store in Jamestown, Tennessee, in violation of his constitutionally and statutorily protected rights to freedom of religion.
Hall, a practicing Baptist, entertains profound religious and moral objections to dispensing abortifacients, or abortion-inducing drugs, such as Plan B. For six years, Walgreens respected Hall's religious beliefs and gave him only favorable reviews for his work performance. But in August 2013, Walgreens did an "about-face" and tried to force Hall to dispense Plan B in violation of his beliefs. When Hall indicated his intent to continue following the internal procedures that accommodated his beliefs, Walgreens fired him...
God Bless him! I've been right there, same chain, same feeling of fear. I left before it went OTC, so I always just lied and said I didn't have it in stock to keep my job safe and my conscience clear. I admire his strength. I quit once my pregnancies were over and I could change jobs.
Hey, I know Larry Crain. I haven’t spoken to him in a few years, but we worked on some civil litigation together in the 90’s. He is a good man and an excellent attorney. I’m glad he took this case.
Sorry. His protected rights to freedom of religion end where his employer’s rights to sell a legal product begin.
If he doesn’t like it, he needs to find new employment.
He will be blessed and may all those in the medical field take heart and take a stand. Guess I’ll let walgreens know what I believe, too!
Agreed. Kind of like a pacifist who works at a munitions factory objecting to his work.
In today’s political climate, could Acme fire a Muslim butcher for refusing to serve pork ?
No. It’s not remotely the same. Employers can’t discriminate based on race, religion, national origin etc. If your employer can’t force you to take off a Hajib, it can’t force you to dispense a morally questionable product.
——Sorry. His protected rights to freedom of religion end where his employer’s rights to sell a legal product begin.-——
Sorry, but Walgreens can’t change the rules after six years of accommodating his religious beliefs....
There was a policy in place to address his concerns....
Not unless they changed their written policy on this issue.... Article does not say they did...
Private companies should be able to set whatever policies they want and should be able to terminate anyone for any reason. Sadly that is not the law any more so I’ll get upset over this one as soon as all the leftist victims group’s cases are tossed.
On a side note I have been looking for a little push to stop using the Walgreens right down the street because their customer service stinks. I think persecution of Christians will do the trick.
well walgreens will be a little lighter in the pocketbook shortly.
that’s not true.
hospitals have religious conscience clauses for docs and nurses. they also have exception clauses for non-religious reasons.
the company for six years knew his objections and were fine with it. to change it after all that time, knowing he didn’t change, is tantamount to deliberately trying to fire him.
and you know there’s millions of those people so the analogy is really spot on. we almost lost the war b/c there were so many of them in the munitions plants. /s
——Private companies should be able to set whatever policies they want and should be able to terminate anyone for any reason.-——
Can’t agree more....except that didn’t happen in this case...
Walgreens has a policy to address this religious issue by asking other employes to dispense the offending drugs....
They accommodated him for six years.... Then they change the rules arbitrarily and fire him on the spot...???
Now if they changed a written policy and asked him to sign off on it and he refused.... That is an entirely different matter....
True, but in my opinion an employer should be able to mandate a Hajib-free workplace.
And people who have a moral objection to contraception products are asking for it when they get a job at a pharmacy. At that point they're looking for a fight.
Yes, if it would be an undue hardship to have some other butcher handle pork.
https://www.casetext.com/case/hellinger-v-eckerd-corp
http://www.jacksonlewis.com/resources.php?NewsID=4642
We must stand with him and other Chistian pharmacists who take a stand and refuse to dispense abortion pills, birth control and other drugs that they may find objectionable.
Title VII requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees’ religious beliefs.
Wonder how many Business Socialists are going to defend Walgreens because “Business has a right to do so”?
Good that this man took a stand and groups are willing to help
Sorry. His protected rights to freedom of religion end where his employer’s rights to sell a legal product begin.
If he doesn’t like it, he needs to find new employment.
Ahh the usual Business Socialist response!
And which Amendment in the Constitution specifically protects a businesses right to sell abortion products, and to violate an individuals rights in the process?
In NYC DeBlasio, like his predecessor, requires that all medical students in the City of New York be required to perform/assist at abortions as part of their training. It would not surprise me if this clamping down on the pharmacist is either a requirement in o-care or vindictiveness on the part of someone in management.
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