Office Depot has formally apologized to a woman who sought to have photocopies made of a pro-life prayer she was to distribute to her parish for a prayer campaign that seeks the conversion of Planned Parenthood.
In an apology statement to Maria Goldstein, reported by the Chicago Tribune, Office Depot chairman and CEO Roland Smith said, “We sincerely apologize to Ms. Goldstein for her experience and our initial reaction was not at all related to her religious beliefs. We invite her to return to Office Depot if she still wishes to print the flier.”
Karen Denning, media spokesperson for Office Depot, said the employee who refused to make photocopies of Goldstein’s flier that contained the pro-life prayer did so based “on the fact that it contained certain words and phrases that could be construed as graphic or advocates the persecution of groups of people,” which are prohibited by the company’s policies.
Denning added that upon a more detailed review of the flier, the company determined the prayer was not a violation of the policy.
As Breitbart News previously reported, Office Depot’s assistant general counsel Robert A. Amicone sent a letter to Goldstein’s legal representative, Thomas Olp of the Thomas More Society, stating that the language in the prayer “falls within the definition of ‘graphic material’ and/or ‘hate material,’ making the refusal to print the flyer appropriate.”
The pro-life prayer was written by Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, and a Breitbart News contributor.
“We are grateful that Office Depot has apologized for discriminating against Maria Goldstein based on the content of her religious, pro-life flyers,” said Olp in a statement in response to Office Depot’s apology. “This situation is a reminder that religious liberty is increasingly under attack today, but it is a fundamental American right that every one of us should value and defend.”
“Thanks to the help of the Thomas More Society, I was able to stand up for my rights as a Christian, and I hope other people are empowered to stand up for their religious freedom, as well,” said Goldstein. “I am grateful that God has used this situation to unite countless people in prayer for the conversion of Planned Parenthood.”
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