It's an ongoing confusion even within our own ranks. I've heard an RCIA instructor say point-blank that contraception is immoral because of their abortifacient properties.
Scott W. | Homepage | 08.21.08 - 12:22 pm | #

the definition of abortion in the rule does not exclude other conscience issues... it is inclusive of and open to other issues of conscience that prevent doctors from administering contraceptives and providing other "health services" - including religious reasons - whatever their religious beliefs may be.

The rule isn't mainly about the fact that it conceded that some physicians and pharmacists hold this "new" definition of abortion ... it is about the fact that our federal agencies must respect the consciences (informed religiously or philosophically) of all people and entities in the health service industry as our laws presently dictate. The definition is just a small part of the document that made the pro-aborts flip out and it is a controversial thing that both sides can grab onto.
just saying | 08.21.08 - 12:23 pm | #

Yeah, can AmP clear this up? I thought most, if not all, chemical contraceptives did have abortifacient side effects. This has been, and I suppose still is, a big part of the arguments by Janet Smith, Jason Evert, et al. against contraceptives. You can go to a number of Catholic websites where this claim is still promulgated.
Kevin | 08.21.08 - 1:49 pm | #

Kevin, close, but not quite. The assertion is that some "contraceptives" sometimes act as abortifacients, not that abortion is a "side effect" of certain contraceptives. Not that everyone is that precise of course, I grant.
Ed Peters | Homepage | 08.21.08 - 2:16 pm | #

If a particular contraceptive is an abortifacient, it adds another sin to the one of contraception in general, which removes the procreative aspect of the sex act, which was meant to include procreative and unitive dimensions.

Can the theologians back me up or correct me here?
GW | 08.21.08 - 3:04 pm | #

Betcha just bout anything that they mean "plan B" as their angle for "birth control." Plan B is basically a two or three Pill doses at once- it's been a while since my Navy rape class, can't remember.

GW- that's a decent version of how it was explained to me; killing is bad; perverting sex to deny life is bad. Rarely, drugs which can be used as birth control can morally be used for other reasons. (Kinda like how tubal pregnancies can be removed.)
Foxfier | Homepage | 08.22.08 - 2:47 am | #

Thanks!
GW | 08.22.08 - 11:04 am | #