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CHILE'S HIGH COURT SAYS "NO" TO MORNING AFTER PILL

Socialist government pushing abortion, divorce and sex-ed

SANTIAGO, Chile, September 4, 2001 (LSN.ca) - The Chilean Supreme Court has recognized the abortifacient component of the "morning-after" birth-control pill and banned its use in Chile, where abortion is illegal. The 3-2 vote overturns a lower court ruling and goes against the Chilean government health ministry's approval of the pill.

"The free distribution of this drug--promoted as an inoffensive contraception--would have opened the doors of the nation to the terrible scourge of abortion and its sinister culture of death,'' read a statement from the conservative group, Chile's Destiny. The morning-after pill stops a fertilized egg from being implanted in the lining of the womb.

Chilean socialist President Ricardo Lagos is also struggling with moral conservatives over the issues of divorce and sex education. His government criticized the high court for using its authority to override the health ministry in a medical issue, and criticized the Catholic Church for encouraging citizens not to vote for politicians supporting abortion or divorce. Chile, approximately 75% Catholic, is the only Western democracy in addition to Malta where divorce is illegal.

For further information please see:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010831/hl/chile_1.html and:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1517000/1517185.stm

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