A punishment handed down to a Minnesota pharmacist for refusing to give a UW-Stout student birth control pills did not violate his constitutional rights.

That's the decision from a state appeals court.

Neil Noesen also refused to release the prescription to another pharmacy.

Court records say Noesen was working as a substitute pharmacist at a Menomonie Kmart in 2002.

That's when the student came in to get the pills.

Noesen told state regulators he is a devout Roman Catholic.

He went on to say he refused to refill or release the prescription because he didn't want to commit a sin.