Pro-Life Pharmacy Opens in Chantilly
The Washington Times (manlier than Washingtonian!) announced today's opening of Chantilly's newest pharmacy: The Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy. But unlike other local pharmacies such as CVS and Rite-Aid, the DMC pharmacy caters specifically to the pro-life set. "[T]here will be no birth-control pills, condoms, cigarettes or pornographic magazines" at DMC, writes Times reporter Julia Duin. "There will, however, be booklets on natural family planning."
The executive director of Divine Mercy Care, Robert Laird, notes that the absent items won't affect the DMC's mission of “Bringing the Healing Presence of Christ through Healthcare” because, well, "Birth control is not health care." Cigarettes and porn mags: also not health care.
Laird added that the pharmacy will be "catering to a special niche of people who like the pro-life message in their business." Laird says the DMC will neither fill a birth control prescription nor direct customers to another pharmacy that might help them.
The Post wrote its own story about the pharmacy back in June.
11:55 pm
Some protesters should head to Chantilly and harass their customers and employees on their way in and out of the store. Maybe some catchy signs or slogans or dramatic performances in an effort to upset people who are doing a job they think is right or seeking a legal service that suits their needs.
9:14 am
I'm confused as to why anyone cares? This is not the only pharmacy on the face of the earth. Why can't people operate their business in the way they want to and adhere to their beliefs.
The only possible danger I can see is letting it spread to Health Care providers..like doctors; which we have already seen when doctors refused in vitro for a lesbian woman who wanted to have a baby with her partner. That was ruled against by the court btw.
But, I must believe that there is a clear line between pharmacies and hospitals (who I don't think should be able to refuse care). I feel that the running of a business is different from providing medical care. When you become a doctor, you sign on to see the patient as what they are, an individual that needs medical attention. And that is all.
Eh, maybe I'm being naive. But. I don't see anything wrong with the Pro-Life Pharmacy.
10:10 am
Thanks for commenting, JT. I think you can respect the pharmacy's right to operate its business while finding the phenomenon interesting enough to report. I don't know if anyone is calling for the pharmacy to close; I'd like to hear from that person if they are. I'm personally more interested in staying on top of trends and showing how pro-life legislation works in practice.
Later today I'll be posting a story about which pharmacies in D.C. provide contraception and which don't. There's a pharmacy in the District connected to a hospital which does not fill birth control prescriptions; I'm not sure if all the doctors at the hospital refuse to prescribe birth control, but if they did, they would not fill it there.
10:11 am
Oh, and of of course---if you're a person that feels shopping at a business that provides contraception goes against your beliefs, then you'd want to know about this pharmacy, too.