Groups send letter to Walgreens about work with Catholic hospital

SEATTLE (AP) — Nineteen groups led by the American Civil Liberties Union have sent a letter to the Walgreens drug store chain expressing concerns about the company's plans to have a Catholic hospital run in-store health clinics in Washington state and Oregon.


In a letter sent to Walgreens on Monday, the organizations asked if the clinics would allow access to contraception, abortion drugs and prescriptions to aid in dying, as allowed by Washington's Death with Dignity law.

The letter notes that other health organizations that have partnered with Providence Health stopped providing abortions after affiliating with the Catholic hospital.

The letter was signed by organizations including NARAL, Planned Parenthood, Compassion & Choices and several gay rights organizations.

Walgreens has announced Providence will be opening 25 health clinics within its stores.

A phone call to the company asking for comment was not immediately returned Monday morning.