Catholic Bioethics Center examines Connecticut Plan B legislation, HLI calls for reversal of bishops’ decision

[vz71]

saw this article posted on another discussion…

lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/2006/09/review-plan-b-how-it-works-and-doesnt.html

the article states plan b prevents ovulation if used at the proper time.
Also states that when ovulation has occurred, plan b has been shown in studies to have no affect on uterine lining.

If this is true, the obvious next question would be…is it moral for a rape victime to prevent ovulation?

I read this article as well.
One thing that struck me was the following quote:

The reason I am still wary is the evidence that the “luteal” phase of the cycle - the time from ovulation to the time the woman starts shedding her uterine lining - is shortened in some women. If the lining is shed early, I can’t be sure that there could not be a loss of an embryo which is beginning to implant.

Given that, there is question as to whether this drug causes abortion. Given the existence of the question, the Bishops should be saying no until it is proven otherwise. They should be erring on the side of life.

I am in shock that Bishops within my church would attempt to operate so far outside of church teaching.
Is B16 aware of all this?

 

[Orionthehunter]

I am in shock that Bishops within my church would attempt to operate so far outside of church teaching.
Is B16 aware of all this?

I am not a scientist or a doctor so to the extent that medical facts come to bear on whether this is can lead to the abortion of a concieved child, I don’t know. Rape is an offense against the victim and God and the victim is able to take all reasonable actions to prevent the offense and mitigate the consequences up until God has breathed life (the egg is fertilzed by sperm) and inbued the embryo with a soul.

Based on the links in this thread, it appears that the science is that this drug does cause the abortion of a fertilized egg. This may not be the case when the science becomes better known. Personally, I wish that the Bishops had waited until the science was more clear (it may never be absolutely clear).

This being said, I don’t think it is factually accurate to say the Bishops were clearly operating inconsistent with Church teaching. Like another poster said, it was years until clarity was discerned regarding IV fertilization.

Furthermore, if the Vatican didn’t know about it the day the Connecticut Bishop’s made this decision, in this world of instantaneous media, they knew the day after.

Prudence and respect dictates that we not jump the gun in admonishment, judgment and calumny against these Bishops. If they are in error with teaching or understanding of the science, it will be corrected. Attached is the Archdiocese of Hartford’s statement on this decision. archdioceseofhartford.org/

 

[rpp]

I am not a scientist or a doctor so to the extent that medical facts come to bear on whether this is can lead to the abortion of a concieved child, I don’t know. Rape is an offense against the victim and God and the victim is able to take all reasonable actions to prevent the offense and mitigate the consequences up until God has breathed life (the egg is fertilzed by sperm) and inbued the embryo with a soul.

** Based on the links in this thread, it appears that the science is that this drug does cause the abortion of a fertilized egg. This may not be the case when the science becomes better known.** Personally, I wish that the Bishops had waited until the science was more clear (it may never be absolutely clear).

This being said, I don’t think it is factually accurate to say the Bishops were clearly operating inconsistent with Church teaching. Like another poster said, it was years until clarity was discerned regarding IV fertilization.

Furthermore, if the Vatican didn’t know about it the day the Connecticut Bishop’s made this decision, in this world of instantaneous media, they knew the day after.

Prudence and respect dictates that we not jump the gun in admonishment, judgment and calumny against these Bishops. If they are in error with teaching or understanding of the science, it will be corrected. Attached is the Archdiocese of Hartford’s statement on this decision. archdioceseofhartford.org/

It does not matter if Plan B kills the baby or acts as an artificial contraceptive. Both are evil. Of course, killing the baby is far more evil, but neither can be supported by the Church.

So ultimately, it does not matter what the science shows. Use of the drug in these circumstances is intrinsically evil. Just because a woman is the victim of a terrible, sometimes horrific, crime does not justify killing a baby.

 

[Orionthehunter]

It does not matter if Plan B kills the baby or acts as an artificial contraceptive. **Both are evil. ** Of course, killing the baby is far more evil, but neither can be supported by the Church.

So ultimately, it does not matter what the science shows. Use of the drug in these circumstances is intrinsically evil. Just because a woman is the victim of a terrible, sometimes horrific, crime does not justify killing a baby.

While you may have reached the determination that actions to prevent pregnancy in the event if a rape is “evil”, you stand outside Church Teaching on the matter. Bold and italics are emphasis added by me. This document is the model that is used throughout the world to aid Catholic Hospitals and missionaries.

Directive 36 of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services pertains to appropriate care for women who have been sexually assaulted. Directive 36 reads:

“Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault. Health care providers should cooperate with law enforcement officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. *It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.*19”

19 It is recommended that a sexually assaulted woman be advised of the ethical restrictions that prevent Catholic hospitals from using abortifacient procedures; cf. Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, “Guidelines for Catholic Hospitals Treating Victims of Sexual Assault,” Origins 22 (1993): 810.

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, 4th Edition, Copyright © 2001, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved.

Regarding your final statement, prevention of the fertilization of an egg is not “killing a baby”. Women are not required by the Church to encourage every egg to be fertilized. They can make an affirmative decision to abstain which is an act to prevent fertilization. In the case of rape, she was not given any rights on the matter. For this reason, up until conception (God breathed life occurs), she can do all possible to prevent fertilization. This distinction is at the heart of the Church’s teaching on the matter.

 

[rpp]

While you may have reached the determination that actions to prevent pregnancy in the event if a rape is “evil”, you stand outside Church Teaching on the matter. Bold and italics are emphasis added by me. This document is the model that is used throughout the world to aid Catholic Hospitals and missionaries.
Directive 36 of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services pertains to appropriate care for women who have been sexually assaulted. Directive 36 reads:

“Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault. Health care providers should cooperate with law enforcement officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. *It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.*19”

19 It is recommended that a sexually assaulted woman be advised of the ethical restrictions that prevent Catholic hospitals from using abortifacient procedures; cf. Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, “Guidelines for Catholic Hospitals Treating Victims of Sexual Assault,” Origins 22 (1993): 810.

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, 4th Edition, Copyright © 2001, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved.Regarding your final statement, prevention of the fertilization of an egg is not “killing a baby”. Women are not required by the Church to encourage every egg to be fertilized. They can make an affirmative decision to abstain which is an act to prevent fertilization. In the case of rape, she was not given any rights on the matter. For this reason, up until conception (God breathed life occurs), she can do all possible to prevent fertilization. This distinction is at the heart of the Church’s teaching on the matter.

This is a very interesting document. Does it come from the Magisterium? I do not think so. The source is not the pope nor a Church Council. It is from a subcommittee of the USCCB. Not only is it not binding, like the documents from the USCCB saying the death penalty should be eliminated or that there were no pedophile priests, this document is not binding. The statements you quoted cannot be reconciled with Humanae Vitae, which is a binding document, as well as subsequent writings of Pope John Paul II.

Yet even in this statement, (underlined section) it is clear that Plan B is not permissible because it prevents the implantation of the fertilized ovum.

As I said before, if the pill is taken after fertilization, there is a baby and the baby is killed. If it is taken before fertilization, then it is artificial contraception. Both are evil. How conception occurred is immaterial. Artificial contraception and abortion are both evil and can never be justified.

 

[Orionthehunter]

From rpp: This is a very interesting document. Does it come from the Magisterium? I do not think so. The source is not the pope nor a Church Council. It is from a subcommittee of the USCCB.

It is a model used world-wide by the Church. If it was contrary to Church Teaching, it would have been addressed. It has been in force in the U.S. since 2001.

From RPP: The statements you quoted cannot be reconciled with Humanae Vitae, which is a binding document, as well as subsequent writings of Pope John Paul II.

What have I said or is in this document in contradiction to Humane Vitae? I see nothing in conflict.

From RPP: Yet even in this statement, (underlined section) it is clear that Plan B is not permissible because it prevents the implantation of the fertilized ovum.

The predominant science says that this does nothing to prevent the implementation of a newly concieved life. However, the science is not clear which is why it is MY prudential judgment that the Bishop’s should have waited until the science was more clear. But this is MY judgment. It is not inherently superior to the judgment of you or the Bishops. There are matters which the Church allows us to disagree, even with our Bishop.

From RPP: As I said before, if the pill is taken after fertilization, there is a baby and the baby is killed. If it is taken before fertilization, then it is artificial contraception. Both are evil. How conception occurred is immaterial. Artificial contraception and abortion are both evil and can never be justified.

The document and the letter by the Archbishop of Hartford both agree that once there is fertilization, action to prevent implantion of the new life is evil.

From the Archbishop of Hartford: "Nonetheless to administer Plan B pills in Catholic hospitals to victims of rape a pregnancy test to determine that the woman has not conceived is sufficient. An ovulation test will not be required. The administration of Plan B pills in this instance cannot be judged to be the commission of an abortion because of such doubt about how Plan B pills and similar drugs work and because of the current impossibility of knowing from the ovulation test whether a new life is present. To administer Plan B pills without an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act.

Since the teaching authority of the Church has not definitively resolved this matter and since there is serious doubt about how Plan B pills work, the Catholic Bishops of Connecticut have stated that Catholic hospitals in the State may follow protocols that do not require an ovulation test in the treatment of victims of rape. A pregnancy test approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration suffices. If it becomes clear that Plan B pills would lead to an early chemical abortion in some instances, this matter would have to be reopened."
Note that the hospitals are testing to see if pregnancy has occurred and will not administer if the victim is pregnant. More important, if determined that is causes an abortion, the Bishop will revisit the decision. Finally, despite this decision, the Bishops still believe that the law is an unconstitutional restriction of the freedom of religion and will continue to fight for a change in the law.

 

[timotheos]

From the FDA website

fda.gov/CDER/drug/infopage/planB/planBQandA.htm

1. How does Plan B work?

Plan B works like other birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Plan B acts primarily by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation). It may prevent the union of sperm and egg (fertilization). If fertilization does occur, Plan B may prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb (implantation). If a fertilized egg is implanted prior to taking Plan B, Plan B will not work.

Hmmm. I am not an obstetrician, but it seems like prevention of ovulation is how BCPs may work, prevention of union of sperm and egg is what barrier contraception does (and maybe IUDs), and prevention of implantation is how IUDs may work in some cases.

Unless the Church allows BCPs, barrier contraceptives or IUDs, I think it’s going to be hard to finesse any kind of pretzel logic loophole here.

• Tim

 

[timotheos]

From the Archbishop of Hartford: "Nonetheless to administer Plan B pills in Catholic hospitals to victims of rape a pregnancy test to determine that the woman has not conceived is sufficient.

Whoa. Somebody needs a lesson on the sensitivity of pregnancy tests. I thought around 7 days after conception was about when the sensitive pregnancy tests turn positive. Kind of outside the time frame when most of these patients present to the ER…

-Tim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

If this is true, the obvious next question would be…is it moral for a rape victime to prevent ovulation?

I’m no expert, but I would think so.

Humane Vite prohibits the use of artificial birth control, in the context of natural intercourse.

Is rape considered, natural intercourse?

Jim

 

[cathgal]

Plan B is also known as ‘morning-after pill’.

The emergency contraceptive/morning-after pill has three possible ways in which it can work:

1. 
   *]Ovulation is inhibited, meaning the egg will not be released;
   *]The normal menstrual cycle is altered, delaying ovulation; or
   *]It can irritate the lining of the uterus so that if the first and second actions fail, and the woman does become pregnant, the tiny baby boy or girl will die before he or she can actually attach to the lining of the uterus.
   In other words, if the third action occurs, her body rejects the tiny baby and he or she will die. This is called a chemical abortion.
   
   This is coming from the American Life League.
   
   Plan B is an abortaficient, no doubt about it.
   
   I belief in case of rape only, if ovulation hasn’t occur, contraception is permitted. Meaning that the egg has not been fertilized. But then again, there’s no guarantee that Plan B will inhibit ovulation. So using the drug is definitely wrong.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It is interesting to note that the bishops say ;

But Catholic Bishops of Connecticut and leaders of the Catholic hospitals said in a joint statement Thursday that "since the teaching authority of the church has not definitively resolved this matter

Who do they think the teaching authority is?
Are they joining the dissidents in saying that if it isn’t an infallible papal pronouncement it doesn’t count?
What about the teaching that they should have denied communion to these politicians several years ago? As I recall they decided that one was open to their discretion.

 

[cathgal]

It is interesting to note that the bishops say ;
Who do they think the teaching authority is?
Are they joining the dissidents in saying that if it isn’t an infallible papal pronouncement it doesn’t count?
What about the teaching that they should have denied communion to these politicians several years ago? As I recall they decided that one was open to their discretion.

All these excuses do not cover up their cowardice

 

[Joab_Anias]

Plan B in the context of rape is not contraception, it self defense against the attacker. Catholic teaching has consistently held that a woman may defend herself against an attacker and possible pregnancy.

She may not abort a conceived child, of course.

Yes, there is much controversy over the mechanisms of Plan B. And, the statement is correct-- the Church has not *definitively *ruled on this subject.

Something doesn’t make sense to me.

If the drug only stops ovulation then isn’t its use after the fact of a rape too late?

Wouldn’t ovulation need to be stopped before the rape?

What purpose would it have if a life has already been concieved other than to prevent it?

 

[hasikelee]

You would think in our day and age of cultural relativism and the rush to soothe every person who is practicing their own little belief…that these hospitals would have legal leverage in this situation.

Unless the person going to the hospital has no alternative (e.g. only medical care available in town) why is this happening?

 

[rpp]

I’m no expert, but I would think so.

Humane Vite prohibits the use of artificial birth control, in the context of natural intercourse.

Is rape considered, natural intercourse?

Jim

The definition of “natural intercourse” is sexual relations that can result in conception. By that definition, vaginal rape is natural intercourse done in an outrageously sinful, disgustingly cruel and utterly evil manner.

 

[Lady_D_I]

If the drug only stops ovulation then isn’t its use after the fact of a rape too late?

Sperm can live 3-5 days in good mucus, so its use after a rape may not too late.

 

[Lady_D_I]

Yes, there is much controversy over the mechanisms of Plan B.

This is true. The evidence on Plan B supports that it DOES NOT alter the lining of the uterus but acts by suppressing ovulation. It is not an absolute fact that Plan B prevents or has ever prevented implantation, but IMHO the indirect evidence supports this as potentital effect.

 

[Joab_Anias]

All these excuses do not cover up their cowardice

I wonder if their decision had something to do with it becoming law in a couple of days.

Does this decision stop it from becoming law and how would a law like this be inforced anyway?

The article said it had been tied up in court for 2 years, did the courts or lack of de fide from Rome simply wear down the bishops?

I sense there is more to the story behind the bishops move in this direction.

Remember we have a secular source reporting this. I am sure they are telling only what they want you to hear.

 

[rpp]

This is from the FDA web site.

4. How does Plan B work? Plan B works like a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb), which usually occurs beginning 7 days after release of an egg from the ovary. Plan B will not do anything to a fertilized egg already attached to the uterus. The pregnancy will continue.

Here is the link.

fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/planB/planBQandA20060824.htm

 

[Lady_D_I]

This is from the FDA web site.

Here is the link.

fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/planB/planBQandA20060824.htm

The prescribing information is not scientific evidence. With that said, there is no direct evidence (for good reason) that Plan B or oral contraceptives for that matter prevent implantation. However, there is indirect evidence that this may occur though the evidence on Plan B is less convincing.

Just a couple of articles:

Effect of single administration of levonorgestrel on the menstrual cycle

On the mechanisms of action of short-term levonorgestrel
administration in emergency contraception