After this ludicrous “conscience clause” bill that has been passed to go to a House-Senate conference committee, we find that we are already currently facing this threat to reproductive rights. Last Monday a pharmacist in Madison, WI went to trial. What for, do you ask? He refused to fill a prescription for birth control to a young woman because he believed it was a sin. Sigh.

It was in July 2002 when Amanda Phiede went to the Kmart pharmacy to refill her prescription and Noesen was so conveniently filling in as an independent pharmacist. He refused to refill and when asked, transfer the prescription as well. His attorney states that as a devout Roman Catholic, Noesen was merely using his constitutional right to religious expression.

“I could have trouble sleeping at night. I could be suffering the worst kind of pain. Spiritual pain.” Noesen told a judge. Ouch, that spiritual pain can be a killer! Much worse by far than the consequences Amanda would have had to face if she became pregnant, I’m sure.

And as Jessica reported on BushvChoice last week, the most insane part of this was that "Phiede returned to the pharmacy the next day with police to get her pills. Nice work on her part, though you have to be pretty freaked out when the day comes along that you need a police escort just to get your birth control." Word.

The conclusion of the hearing is yet to be decided. Hopefully we won’t be seeing him at the local pharmacy no mo’.

According to the Women’s Law Center, three states -- Arkansas, Mississippi, and South Dakota -- have already passed laws allowing pharmacists to refuse drugs to customers if they have a religious or moral objection. Can someone please tell me when people’s personal beliefs began to control others’ basic rights?? Argh.