Becket Fund defends conscience rights of pharmacists in Washington State

Luke Goodrich, Legal Counsel

In defense of a family-owned pharmacy in the state of Washington, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty just filed a petition for a full, eleven-judge hearing at the 9th Circuit federal court of appeals. A three-judge panel of the same court ruled earlier this month that the pharmacy will likely have to abide by a State Board of Pharmacy rule that forces pharmacists to sell the so-called morning after pill, or Plan B, even when doing so violates their conscience. \"No Americans should be forced out of their profession solely because of their religious beliefs--but that is exactly what these regulations are designed to do,\" said Luke Goodrich, legal counsel at the Becket Fund. \"The government should accommodate and protect the fundamental rights of all members of the medical profession, not punish some members because of their religious beliefs.\" 

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Appeals court: Quoting the Bible is not a crime

Eric Rassbach,
National Litigation
Director

A Michigan state appeals court exonerated a Christian minister who was put under house arrest because he quoted Biblical passages warning that God would punish the judge who sentenced him. After a coalition of a dozen religious and civil rights groups, including The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, filed an amicus brief in defense of Rev. Edward Pinkney\'s ability to speak and preach freely, state prosecutors admitted to the appeals court that it would be wrong to revoke the minister\'s probation for quoting the Bible. The appeals court\'s decision recognized the government\'s capitulation. \"The prosecution saw the writing on the wall and wisely decided to yield to a higher power-the Constitution,\" said Eric Rassbach , The Becket Fund\'s National Director of Litigation. \"Our country was founded on the idea that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. The right to preach freely is one of those rights.\" 

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Jail censors letter from mom to inmate because language is \"Too Religious\"

Civil rights groups, including the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, sent a letter to the Rappahannock Regional Jail decrying the censorship of letters a Christian mother sent her imprisoned son. The letters were stamped for censorship with the words \"Religious Material from Home.\" On at least one occasion, all that was left of a 3-page letter was the salutation, first paragraph, and \"Love, Mom.\" Prison authorities can legitimately censor writings that affect prison security, but the courts have ruled that inmates may have access to religious materials.

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