Why do religious people, whilst in the execution of their professional duty, feel the need to pontificate and foist their opinions on people? I'm talking about Catholic pharmacists. Religion is a pretty abstract concept, and a pharmacist is there to help with people's health, not tell them he/she would rather the woman got her pill prescription elsewhere as he/she doesn't believe in this form of contraception due to his/her staunch Catholicism. Of course, if the woman is taking the pill to control erratic and difficult menstrual cycles, that is sanctioned. And then the pharmacist marvels at the contagion of women in town suddenly suffering painful periods.
This is something that is bugging the living snot out of me, as you can probably tell. Some of you might be aware that Soul Pattinson has spoken out against one of their franchisees who was in the practise of putting (admittedly politely worded) notes in with Pill prescriptions about his discomfiture over this form of contraception. I am not going to name and shame this pharmacist. He is entitled to his opinion. If you think I'm not respecting his right to an opinion by bagging out his views on my blog, let me point out my blog is my fiefdom, although I am still liable for a lawsuit if I name and shame. Speaking of lawsuits, I can draw a pretty crude analogy here, particularly given my legal background. A lawyer will most definitely not 'believe in' going out and killing someone, but if handed a brief to act for someone so accused, will get on with his/her job of defending the accused, or else presenting a strong case for the most lenient sentence available. And then submit a bill.
Yes, a woman given this silly note can go elsewhere for her contraceptive pill, but what if it's a one-horse, and ergo one-pharmacist, town? I grew up in such a community, and let me tell you this: the local pharmacist did not stock condoms owing to his Catholic beliefs. His son has the practice now, and I am uncertain if he has repealed this ludicrous policy. If I go in, and see no frangers on the shelves, I am tempted to approach the counter and say in a loud Cheech-n-Chong Uncle Pervy voice, 'I wanna buy condoms because I'm going to have sex. Lots and lots of SEX!'
Whilst I respect the pharmacist's right to practise his religious views in his OWN time, I find it breath-takingly arrogant to foist this on the community at large. Another thing about condoms: they are not only a form of contraception, they are a potential health and even life saver! So it can be inferred that he or she is not carrying out his duty as a health care provider in denying prophylactics to people!
If I attend a pharmacy and find myself on the receiving end of a lecture, or am asked to go elsewhere for contraceptive needs owing to the pharmacist's worship of a supernatural being, I am going to say loudly, 'Keep your fucking rosaries off my fucking ovaries!'
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