Retail Madness

We all remember how Jesus chased the moneychangers out of the temple, right? Well, he should have focused his efforts on the Big Box retailers instead, where Evangelical Christianity and hard, cold capitalism are colliding in increasingly strange ways.

How strange, you ask?

Well…

1) Which mass-market retailer has come under fire from Planned Parenthood for allowing its pharmacists NOT to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception if doing so offends their religious sensibilities?

A) Target
B) Wal-Mart
C) Costco
D) K-Mart


2) Which mass-market retailer avoided a boycott by the Catholic League after publicly apologizing for an employee who, while explaining to an angry Christian shopper why the retailer wished its customers “happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” suggested that many Christmas symbols had their historical roots in non-Christian religions?

A) Target
B) Wal-Mart
C) Costco
D) K-Mart



ANSWERS
1) A: Target lets its pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions for emergency contraceptives on religious grounds. No word if the retailer also lets its pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions for Viagra.
2) B: Wal-Mart apologized for the employees action, although it will still wish customers “happy holidays” — a decision that Catholic League president Bill Donohue call’s “dumb.”