March 17, 2006
Clean Shopping, Clean Conscience
In my recent post, Wal-Mart as the World’s Biggest Abortion Provider?, I argued that we should not shop at Wal-Mart because they are selling the Plan B abortion pill (as Fr. Pavone’s conscientious objector). But Kaffinator made a great point in the comments:
Albertsons, Costco, K-Mart, Rite-aid, Safeway, Target, and Walgreens already offer Plan B. You are asking for a boycott on the last major pharmacy chain to have held out against Plan B pills. Are you saying you will boycott all of those stores as well?
Is it even possible to shop when you start banning companies because they sell this pill? And one friend even pointed out that the Birth Control Pill also causes abortions from time to time and virtually every pharmacy sells it (and lots of stores now have pharmacies). So how can we have a clean conscience about where we spend our money?
Well, some people are smarter than others and my friend’s mother called American Life League to get their opinion. They offered a two-part plan that turned out to be exceptionally good advice, so here’s my take on it.
Part A: Think Local
First, start with your local stores. Call the pharmacies of your local Wal-Mart, Costco, and grocery stores. Specifically ask them if they sell the Plan B pill. In my experience, you have to ask very directly and possibly more than once (the pharmacists are not eager to share their moral values with a stranger over the phone). If they don’t, then thank them politely for doing so and let them know you will be shopping there because of it. If they will sell it, let them know that you won’t be shopping at their store until they stop selling it.
But this isn’t enough, it’s important to take it to the next step. Write the store manager and copy the pharmacy and the corporate office to let them know you won’t be shopping at the store until they stop selling the Plan B abortion pill. Once you have a list of the stores that do sell it, write your local newspaper and your congressman. Tell your friends and family as well. In other words, make sure it is publicly known that this store sells the abortion pill (remember most people in the US are against abortion). And explain why contraception and abortion are so bad (also see more information here.
If they don’t sell it, I would recommend writing the corporate office and the manager as well, letting them know you will continue shopping there because of it. This is as important as protesting against the ones that do sell it.
Part B: Think Positive
The second thing to do is positively affirm the companies that do good. In other words, if you’re going to eat fast food, try to choose Chick-fil-a (except on Sunday) or Carl’s, Jr (bad ads, but they do support pro-life causes). If you’re having a beer, choose Coors (they give heavily to pro-life causes). Need to workout? Choose Curves (if you’re female). There are plenty of good companies out there, but it requires some research to find them. Also think locally. Even though we are going to have to shop at Wal-Mart, try to move some of your money to a local farmer’s market or small grocery store. We have a small pharmacy in a town near our home, for example. These small stores are more likely to be run by moral people (you should ask about Plan B, just in case) that don’t have corporate pressure to sell these things. I know there are grocery chains (not public companies) that adhere to a Christian moral outlook.
Tell your friends and family why you support these companies and why you are willing to drive a little further or pay a little more. This is the slow, steady way to win the race.
Conclusion: Shop your Conscience
Why do these companies feel secure in selling something has horrible as the Plan B abortion pill? Because they know most Americans are either too lazy or too cheap to do anything about it. They know we’ll keep shopping even if they sell abortion cheap. It’s time to draw a line in the sand and choose what you are willing to accept. I do believe we will be required to explain why we spent our money (a gift from God) the way we did. Can you spend it freely knowing (or wondering) if the pharmacy 20 feet away is helping to kill babies created by God?
Take action now. It’s almost too late.
God bless,
Jay
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
I was intrigued that Coors gives to prolife causes, so I checked out their website to try and get some verification. I didn't find that, but I did find out that they support "GLBT" causes. So I would not encourage people to support them over any other beer company.
Posted by: Laura at March 18, 2006 4:36 PMLaura,
You bring up a great point - a company must be judged across the board. Just because they shine in one area doesn't mean they don't mess it up in another. We can't just look at their pro-life causes.
It almost begs for a "rating card" on companies that gives them an A - F for a series of areas.
God bless,
Jay
Hey Jay--thanks for taking my comments to heart and coming up with this very well balanced modification.
I actually kinda like the report card idea. I wonder how many Christians or others would support an agency that gave businesses a sort of "moral scoring"? Such a service might even tailor the score presented according to an individual's concern (you might care about contraceptive sales while I wouldn't, another might want to measure a company's committment to environmental responsibility, etc.)
Posted by: Kaffinator at March 20, 2006 10:52 PMI've never been a fan of Wal-Mart in the past (I don't like their effect on small businesses), but I've found a new respect after they refused to carry abortifacients until it was forced on them by law. Two states gave them no choice, annd they capitulated in the other 48 because there simply was no hope of winning the lawsuits that would have followed. I can't hold their acquiesccence against them after that.
Posted by: Joel at March 21, 2006 6:22 PMIn the last Canadian election, a pro-family site published a report card for the various parties and individuals running for office (kind of the US congress). It included the past voting record on three issues:
1. The Bill that made legalized gay-marriage
2. A Bill to release information about medical risks associated with abortions (I find it ironic that pro-choice supporters don't seem to be keen on the idea of an informed choice)
3. A Bill to raise the age of consent from 14 to 16 (age of consent was put at 14 in 1892 because people were actually getting married at that age).
Posted by: Broken Record at March 22, 2006 12:35 PMSo do you also boycott any business that sells condoms? Or hires gay, lesbian, or bisexual employees and does not discriminate against them? Your whole arguement lacks one important factor: reality. I came across this blod while researching ignorance towards safe-sex education, and I must thank you, because you've provided me with exactly what I needed: proof that no matter how serious the problems of teen pregnancy, STDs including HIV and AIDS, and abortions become, there will always be a few reactionaries out there who will hold to their ignorant beliefs that contraception and comprehensive sexual education will save millions of lives. I can only hope that with each generation, voices of reason, reality, and intelligence will prevail over the hateful and ignorant.
Posted by: Mandakate at May 5, 2006 2:54 PMI think that supporting a BEER company in any way just because they give to a pro-life cause is questionable. How many people each day are killed by drunk drivers or alcohol overdoses or other accidents caused by intoxication? How many families are divided by alcohol? How many babies and small children are abused by drunks? Would you support Coors if the same baby that was 'saved' from abortion was killed in utero by a drunk driver? One who was inebriated on Coors beer? Give me a break!
Posted by: Lacey at July 18, 2007 3:45 PMLacey
St. Thomas Aquinas noted that God created only good... what man chooses to do with his creation can do evil or good.
I agree with you that alcohol is much abused but we can say "don't support (insert any company here)" because there are good an bad uses of anything. Cars kill... don't buy cars. Lead kills don't mine lead don't buy batteries. Food causes obesity and diabetes don't eat. A lady just the other day died in a promotion for a radio station by drinking too much water! I think you can see where this line of logic leads.
In Love
when we were one
Posted by: when we were one at July 19, 2007 10:36 AMDear friends,
Plan B is NOT an abortion pill. It is simply a higher dose of ordinary birth control pills. It prevents ovulation. Those of us who are against abortion need to be FOR contraception - especially Plan B which is used for treatment after rape.
Please don't penalize pharmacists for doing their duty and filling medications as prescribed by a health care professional.
Posted by: Ellie at December 18, 2007 3:59 PMEllie,
You are as wise as the Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, His Excellency Bishop Lori of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Posted by: Burnt Marshwiggle at December 19, 2007 9:58 AMThe Plan B pill and the modern birth control pill contain estrogen (to prevent ovulation) and progesterone (which kills sperm and prevents the implantation of a fertilized ovum) in case ovulation occurs.
The original birth control pill contained only estrogen but at higher doses than the current pills and so caused strokes and heart problems for women.
We know for a fact that Plan B and the modern birth control pill does not always prevent ovulation because women sometimes get pregnant while on the pill.
When ovulation occurs, the only way the progesterone can act is by preventing implantation. Or turning this around, if the birth control pill and Plan B only prevents ovulation, why not take out the progesterone?
more info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCU46_lWeE
Posted by: Burnt Marshwiggle at December 27, 2007 4:27 PM
