NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      BENTONVILLE, Arkansas (CWNews.com) - The Wal-Mart department store chain, the largest retailer in the US, announced last week that it will not sell so-called "emergency contraceptives" through its pharmacy departments nationwide.

      The announcement was both hailed and blasted by pro-life and pro-abortion groups, while Wal-Mart attempted to deflect any connection to the controversial issue by insisting that decision was made for purely market reasons. "We're not going to carry anything that we feel will offend our customers, but that was not the judgment in this case," said Wal-Mart spokesman Jay Allen.

      The American Life League commended Wal-Mart for the decision and reiterated that "emergency contraceptives," such as the drug Preven actually causes abortion after conception rather than prevent conception in the first place. But ALL president Judie Brown said Wal-Mart still sells other abortifacient products. "And Wal-Mart has been known not to respect the conscientious concern of those pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for abortifacients masquerading as 'contraceptives.' Pharmacists have been reprimanded and forced out because of their beliefs and consciences," she said.

      Gloria Feldt, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, slammed Wal-Mart's decision. "They will come to understand that this decision is misguided," she said, "Pharmacies have a moral obligation to provide health care to women, and frankly, emergency contraception prevents unintended pregnancies," she added despite pro-lifers claims that the drugs actually cause abortions.

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