Morality of working for a drug company-Help!

[Donna_Mc]

I would appreciate any imput I can get on this situation. My
husband is out of work and today received a phone call from
a drug company who was intrested in him. This is a very good
position that meets the criteria of what my husband has been
looking for. We looked at their website and it mentioned the products they produce there, but did not mention anything
objectionable (birth control, abortion pills). At the same time
this is not definitive and we realize that the possiblity may
still exist.

I am thinking that maybe we are being tested. If this company
is indeed involved with those kind of products and he turned it
down, I feel that God would reward him with an even better
position. They called him today and want to conduct
a phone interview with him tommorow. Please help!

Thanks so much!

 

[Amateur_Soul]

Why not just ask them about those particular drugs in the interview? He doesn’t have to preach to them but just a simple question would do – or he could ask them for a complete product listing.

 

[StephanieC]

Donna,

I think you need to decide for youselves where your line in the sand, so to speak, lies. And it might be 3 different places for 3 different people.

Everyone here will (likely) say that of course he shouldn’t work directly with those drugs, whether he’s in sales, marketing, production, etc. (I agree!)

We are morally obligated to provide (to the best of our abilities) for our families. And companies need the skills and talents of us Catholics.

Just some hypotheticals to perhaps help you think this through:

What if you (generic “you”) work in the children’s section for a giant book publishing company that also publishes pornography? (As opposed to working for Penthouse)

Or in the geriatic unit of a major hospital that also will perform abortions? (As opposed to working for Planned Parenthood)

Or for a gigantic clothing manufacturer who has several clothing lines, only one of which is considered very “risque”? (As opposed to working for some S & M company)

Just some food for thought…the first examples are morally acceptable, in my opinion, while the second ones are not. Business has become so conglomerated (is that a word?) that it’s difficult to find out which company has bought out another, and which is parented by which…

Just like with the Planned Parenthood boycott lists, you need to decide how many degrees of separation you and your husband require.

I agree with the previous poster…your husband can ask them to tell him more about the product lines he’d be responsible for, and take it from there.

Good luck tomorrow!

 

[Donna_Mc]

Thank you for your posts. My husband works in purchasing so
he would be obtaining ingredients for the various drugs. We are
thinking that many drug companies make their own version
of different popular medications (anti-anxiety, blood pressure, etc)
so that it is likely that they will participate in some
was in the manufacturing of this type of drug.

I am really hoping that somehow this company is not involved
in this sort of thing. Because of the type of work he would
do I feel that this would put him as being directly involved
with the product.

Please pray for us that he will have a new job soon.

Thanks again!