NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood have apparently recognized that it is getting harder to sell abortion rights when the public now views abortion as a negative choice.   So how can they effectively market their image to fight for women’s rights?   They have developed a new campaign to go after Pro-Life pharmacists who have the audacity to refuse to fill prescriptions for morning-after pills.  On NARAL’s web site the headline reads, “Tell pharmacy chains to stop discriminating against women!” and Planned Parenthood’s web site says, “Take action! Fill my pills now.”

Was this campaign behind recent incidents at Chicago area pharmacies?  News reported that “an individual identified in the complaint as “J.C.” called the Osco pharmacy at 137 S. State St. twice on behalf of two patients seeking the morning-after pills.”  Since the two patients were not acting on their own was the caller someone from Planned Parenthood or NARAL?  Reports stated that the pharmacist actually refused to return the prescription so the woman could take it to another pharmacy.  This claim has since been determined to be a total fabrication.

In response to this questionable incident, Governor Rod Blagojevich claims he wasn’t just fooling around when he issued an April 1st emergency rule informing all pharmacies in the state that if they sell contraceptives, they must dispense them without delay.  Blagojevich expressed indignation that any pharmacist would refuse to fill a prescription.   Blagojevich was challenged on the matter by Bishop Thomas Paprocki during an April 3rd memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II that Blagojevich attended.  The bishop appealed, “Mr. Governor, out of respect for John Paul II, please respect his wishes.   Please rescind your order.  Let our pharmacists be free to follow their faith.”  Blagojevich did not rescind his emergency rule.  Instead, he restated his resolve to enforce the rule when some pharmacists indicated they would ignore it.  Mike Patton, Executive Director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, said he believes pharmacists are covered by the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act.   Three lawsuits have now been filed under the provisions of this act to seek the reversal of the Governor’s emergency rule.  Once again, “pro-choice” organizations prove they do not really support choice, unless it is their choice.