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A controversy is currently taking place in the British papers about the so called Morning-After Pill. Is this a contraceptive or abortive?

In a scientific article in the Osservatore Romano of 28th July 1999, Professor Maria Luisa Di Pietro of the Bioethics Istitute of the Sacro Cuor University in Rome replies:
"THE MORNING-AFTER PILL IS ABORTIVE"

What is the "morning-after pill"?
"The term morning-after pill indicates a series of preparations based on oestrogens, aestroprogestogens or progestogens which are given to a woman after but not more than 72 hours after intercourse that is presumed fertile."
"These are synthetic hormones administered for the purpose of contraception and/or abortion."

CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION
Both have the same root or origin. They are fruit of the same tree.
That is what Pope John Paul II said in "Evangelium Vitae" (no 13). And he continued:
"But despite their differences of nature and moral gravity, contraception and abortion are often closely connected, as fruits of the same tree. It is true that in many cases contraception and even abortion are practised under the pressure of real-life difficulties, which nonetheless can never exonerate from striving to observe God's law fully. Still, in very many other instances such practices are rooted in a hedonistic mentality unwilling to accept responsibility in matters of sexuality, and they imply a self-centered concept of freedom, which regards procreation as an obstacle to personal fulfilment. The life which could result from a sexual encounter thus becomes an enemy to be avoided at all costs, and abortion becomes the only possible decisive response to failed contraception. The close connection which exists, in mentality, between the practice of contraception and that of abortion is becoming increasingly obvious." The connection is not just "cultural" but also "technical".

The Pope continues: "It is being demonstrated in an alarming way by the development of chemical products, intrauterine devices and vaccines which, distributed with the same ease as contraceptives, really act as abortifacients in the very early stages of the development of the life of the new human being." (Evangelium Vitae n.13)

Objection: Isn't it better to distribute contraceptives? This would reduce abortions.
Answer: Maria Luisa replies (the following paragraph has been translated, I will try to ensure it is the actual words of the article in English as soon as I find it):
"We cannot fight abortion with contraceptives." And the Professor Di Piero gives the reason:
"This is because those who try to prevent pregnancy with barrier methods or hormonal contraceptives - moreover the latter's abortacient action cannot be ruled out - will seek an abortion if contraception fails."

Did you understand it? When contraceptives fail, they go for abortion just the same. Thus contraceptives don't reduce abortions, they only lead to abortion.

Question: But is the morning-after pill itself an abortifacient?
Maria Luisa Di Piero replies: "The effective action... of the morning-after pill is abortifacient."
"In 80 to 100 percent of the cases the embryo is prevented from being implanted..."

Objection. But the pill is not abortive because it merely prevents implantation.
Maria Luisa Di Piero replies: "Those who say that the morning-after pill is not abortifacient but prevents implantation do not realize that they are affirming its abortifacient nature when they say it prevents implantation. Since this action can only take place after fertilization and works by preventing the continued development of the embryo, it can only be abortifacient."

Objection. But what do doctors say about this?
Answer: The same Professor E. Beaulieu (who invented the abortive pill RU 486) who is no person of religious sentiment, admits and says: "Interruption of pregnancy after fertilization can be regarded in the same way as abortion" (in his book "Il punto sul RU 486: Ediz. Jama. Italian Edition 2, (1990) pag.12.
So the conclusion is one: "a product which prevents implantation is therefore abortifacient." Thus, the morning-after pill is abortifacient.

Onto Part 2...

Pharmacy has a Conscience Problem - In 45 out of 50 States of the US,a pharmacist can be fired by his employer for refusing to dispense an abortifacient drug

Ohio Right to Life

The Disturbing Truth About RU 486 - RU486 is a human pesticide

The RU-486 Files