A CATHOLIC owner of a chemist who discourages customers from buying oral contraception for birth control purposes has been dropped from the Soul Pattinson group overnight.

Last night Soul Pattinson released an official statement on their website and Facebook page, after a frenzied social media backlash to the pharmacist’s public stance on birth control.

Devout Catholic Simon Horsfall may own a pharmacy but he stands by his religious beliefs when it comes to selling oral contraception.

The owner of Soul Pattinson Pharmacy in Thurgoona, NSW, recently came under fire on social media for asking customers who purchase the contraceptive pill for birth control to buy it elsewhere.

The Soul Pattinson pharmacy also refuses to stock condoms and the morning-after pill.

Mr Horsfall’s pharmacy is one of several pharmacies in the Albury-Wodonga vicinity, but is the only chemist in the suburb of Thurgoona. Mr Horsfall has been in the pharmacy industry for 20 years.

Mr Horsfall integrates his religious beliefs with his retail practice by putting a short pamphlet in oral contraception packets, stating his views on birth control.

News.com.au spoke to him about his religious beliefs and his stance on “artificial contraception”, which he has enforced for the 12 years he has been owner the Thurgoona store.

“It’s essentially a matter of me as a Catholic,” Mr Horsfall said. “I don’t believe that artificial contraception is a good thing for society in general. The church has always tried to put that [message] out, saying that it’s bad for people.”

Mr Horsfall admitted that, as a result of his stance, the Soul Pattinson brand “been getting a lot of flak and that’s not my intention”.

Very disappointed at Soul Pattinson for dropping one of their chemists due to his religious beliefs http://t.co/RR6U7wgQgX via @gracekoelma — Fred Nile (@frednile) February 14, 2014

@frednile @newscomauHQ @gracekoelma I'm disappointed in the chemist pushing their belief on others especially when it comes to contraceptive — Hadley Allchurch (@HFAllchurch) February 14, 2014

@frednile @newscomauHQ @gracekoelma I'm more disappointed their religious beliefs got in the way of conducting their non- religious job. — Aparna. (@OnceAPARNATime) February 14, 2014

Unfortunately, his decision not to change his practices means Soul Pattinson has disassociated itself and asked him to re-brand his pharmacy.

“We are aware of the personal perspective of this particular pharmacist, but customers should not assume that Soul Pattinson supports these comments. We respect that the use of contraceptive products is a matter of personal choice,” Soul Pattinson said in its statement.

“The pharmacist concerned has acknowledged the likelihood that some people may assume that the views expressed are reflective of Soul Pattinson’s position on this issue. Consequently it has been agreed that he will no longer be associated with the Soul Pattinson brand.”

News.com.au contacted Mr Horsfall this morning after the statement was released.

“I’m looking to change my branding on the store,” Mr Horsfall said. “Seeing the amount of flak on Facebook, Soul Pattinson have given me an ultimatum to change what I do or rebrand.

“I’ve already been in contact with a different branding group — I will probably go with a group that assists independent pharmacies.”

But Mr Horsfall defended his decision to put notes in the contraceptive packets saying: “It’s a polite note asking people to respect our views. We never refuse [our customers] things, we never hassle them in the store.”

The note acknowledges that contraceptive medicine is used for a number of medical problems as well as birth control, and the pharmacy isn’t privy to the doctor’s reasons for prescribing it. It mentions that if the medicine is taken to treat medical problems, the proprietors are happy to supply it to customers.

But the note then stresses the pharmacy objects to the sale of the medication as “artificial contraception”.

“The owners of Thurgoona Soul Pattinson Chemist, Simon and Kathleen Horsfall accept the official teaching of the Catholic Church against the use of artificial contraception,” the note reads. “If your primary reason for taking the medicine is contraceptive then it could be appreciated that, in the future, you could respect our views and have your OCP prescriptions filled elsewhere.”

While Mr Horsfall says most of his elderly customers have no problem with his open stance on birth control, but there are many people who are offended.

A disgruntled customer posted a photo of the note on Facebook, receiving about 1500 shares at the time of press.

People also took to Twitter to vent their anger at the chemist’s stance on birth control.

@DrBradMcKay RT @sheree_drylie Thurgoona Soul Pattison Chemist refuses to supply the pill on religious grounds pic.twitter.com/rLcenruDuv" — Theodore Bear (@Theodore_Bear) February 13, 2014

@frednile @gracekoelma why. Don't u support free markets?u support his capacity tonnage business as he likes but not soul pattinson? — Michael Tiyce (@MichaelTiyce) February 14, 2014

Thurgoona Soul Pattinson would like women to get their prescriptions for the pill filled elsewhere. Because morals. pic.twitter.com/8kbAyHq7sQ — Amy Gray (@_AmyGray_) February 12, 2014

@craigthomler @_AmyGray_ They are. Ridiculous. How about respecting patient autonomy and privacy Thurgoona Soul Pattison Chemist. Poor form. — david corbet (@corbetron) February 12, 2014

But Mr Horsfall said he was just doing what he believed in.

“If I was selling the pill and taking the money that would be hypocrisy,” he said. “People despise hypocrites with good reason. This is something that I can make a stand on in a gentle way.

“I’m not planning to change anything.

“People are so taken aback by something which by and large people don’t recognise is a moral issue anymore.”

What do you think of Simon Horsfall’s decision? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @gracekoelma