An Illinois appeals court has ruled that two pharmacists cannot be forced against their religious beliefs to fill prescriptions for contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs. The pharmacists were contesting an administrative regulation first issued by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich. It required all Illinois pharmacists to dispense contraceptives and abortifacient drugs, commonly referred to as the “morning-after pill” and “week after pill.” Francis Manion, attorney for the pharmacists, told the Chicago Tribune that this precedent means that the state of Illinois “is not going to go after a pharmacist that exercises conscientious objection.”
