Murder by IUD

[Bubba_Switzler]

The recent debates over the HHS mandate has caused me to pay attention to some issues that I really hadn’t before. Like contraception.

Recently there was an article in the New York Times article by Pam Belluck that claimed Plan B, Ella, and other “morning after pills” are not, contrary to Catholic claims, abortifacient.

Among the responses are these:

nationalreview.com/corner/301980/itimesi-s-convolution-facts-abortifacients-donna-harrison

nationalreview.com/corner/302034/re-itimesi-s-convolution-facts-abortifacients-mark-rienzi

Whatever the case for “morning after pills”, what caught my attention was the claim that the far more commonly used IUD is an abortifacient.

I will be the first to admit that I don’t know much about contraceptives. Well, I know how a rubber works, but beyond that, not much.

So I took a quick peek at the wiki page on IUDs. Sure enough, it says: “Copper IUDs work by impairing the mobility of sperm and preventing them from joining with an egg. Additionally, the foreign body irritates the lining and wall of the uterus making it hard for an embryo to implant.” (It’s less clear on how the non-copper IUDs work.)

Now, of course, the Church categorically says contraception, even with a rubber, is a sin.

But if the IUD prevents embryonic implantation does it not follow that it is murder? And if it is murder, shouldn’t it be categorized with abortion? And if it is categorized with abortion, shouldn’t the Church be pushing for legal restrictions against it? Indeed, shouldn’t a Catholic society pursue a murder conviction in a court of law?

 

[choose_to_love]

bubba,

While the prevention of implantation, intentionally, of the new human embryo is morally wrong, intrinsically evil, etc., as regards a murder conviction, how would you prove that in a particular instance a specific embryo was prevented from implanting specifically by the action of the IUD? It works, as I understand it, within days of fertilization. How would the state (police) measure that? How would you prove any failure to implant was not due to a congenital defect in the embryo? How would you even know where, i.e., which woman, to look for?

Certainly I think the method of action is a good reason that the Church should oppose this form of contraception, but I suspect the Church did oppose the IUD when it was introduced, but was largely ignored.

 

[Bubba_Switzler]

While the prevention of implantation, intentionally, of the new human embryo is morally wrong, intrinsically evil, etc., as regards a murder conviction, how would you prove that in a particular instance a specific embryo was prevented from implanting specifically by the action of the IUD? It works, as I understand it, within days of fertilization. How would the state (police) measure that? How would you prove any failure to implant was not due to a congenital defect in the embryo? How would you even know where, i.e., which woman, to look for?

You pose some good, practical questions for a traditional homicide prosecution. Essentially what you are asking is “where is the body?” and “where is the proof?” But there have been cases where a homicide prosecution has been conducted absent a body. It’s harder but not impossible or unlawful to prosecute without a body. So I agree that it’s impractical, in general, but that’s not really the point.

Certainly I think the method of action is a good reason that the Church should oppose this form of contraception, but I suspect the Church did oppose the IUD when it was introduced, but was largely ignored.

Maybe it is simply that the Chuch is categorically opposed to contraception and opposed to abortion and that these grab attention but they are not treated the same nor is abortion treated as morally equivalent to stabbing a child on the way home from school or intentionally running down an old lady crossing the street.

My main reason for raising the question as I did is to understand how the Church views the role of the state in abortifacient, abortion, and conventional homicide. Even if you are not going to actully prosecute women for using IUDs it stands to reason that abortifacients ought to be outlawed along with abortion and homicide.

 

[Lady_Love]

Please pray for me! I used an IUD for two months. I hope that I did not abort my baby. This disturbs me deeply. I have confessed it in confession just in case and I have named her, just in case. I have asked her for forgiveness and told her that I really did want her, that Mommy was weak, that I gave into pressure. I know my little girl forgives me. I know she is praying for me…if I did abort her by the use of the IUD.

It is such a terrible thought. God have mercy on me and destroy the IUD, which is probably a huge cause of death. Oh, God, have mercy, have mercy! :crying: