John Lane’s offense; he refused to dispense contraceptives and the morning after pill on moral grounds. The complaints could have cost Lane his license but when he arrived at a hearing before the state pharmacy board he quickly discovered the board was more interested in protecting his right of conscience. 

“I’m of the opinion that life begins at conception and I just feel like I need to act on that to be true to my faith and also true to my profession.”

Across the US, pharmacists’ rights of conscience are being threatened. In Illinois, for example, the governor ordered all pharmacists in the state to dispense the morning after pill or lose their license.  Francis Manion with the American Center for Law and Justice will soon question the constitutionality of that order at the Illinois Supreme Court.

“We’re optimistic, the fact that they chose to take this case, is a good sign.  We’re asking them to strike down the rule (because it violates) our client’s constitutional rights.”

Gary McCaleb with the Alliance Defense Fund says pharmacists should not be penalized for abiding by their beliefs. 

“If the far left can really control the conscience of Christians who are in the business world, then we’re in disparate straits so we really need to defend the line on this one.”

He says neither government nor an employer should make people choose between their faith and their job.