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Canadian Bishops Ask Pharmacists to Inform Clients of Abortifacient Nature of Morning After Pill

OTTAWA, July 9, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), the life issues branch of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, has written the Canadian Pharmacists Association asking that pharmacists inform clients of the abortive potential of the Morning After Pill. In addition, the letter signed by COLF chairman Bishop Pierre Morissette of Baie Comeau also requests the "Association's position on respecting the freedom of conscience and religion of pharmacists who do not wish to distribute this pill" and notes the health risks of the pill.

The letter says COLF is "concerned" about the association's strong support for non-prescription status for the abortifacient pill. Moreover, the letter notes that the morning after pill's "abortive potential has been glossed over in the media" as well as in communications from the association.

Bishop Morisette notes that while an association letter said the pill will "reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy and the number of abortions performed," information from Heath Canada indicates that the pill either inhibits conception by preventing ovulation or inhibits implantation if conception has already taken place." According to a statement from The Therapeutic Products Directorate, dated June 16, 2003, "Hormonal emergency contraceptives act primarily by inhibiting ovulation, and/or altering tubal transport of sperm and/or ova (thereby inhibiting fertilization), and/or altering the endometrium (thereby inhibiting implantation)."

Bishop Morisette writes, "Genetic science demonstrates clearly that human life begins at conception, not implantation."

The letter requests assurances from the association that "should Health Canada make this pill available without a prescription across Canada that your members will inform women of its potential to act as an abortifacient." It warns, "Women who accept that life begins at conception would refuse to take this pill if informed of its abortive potential. One can only imagine the impact if they learned of the pill's abortive potential after the fact."

See the full COLF letter online:
http://www.cccb.ca/PublicStatements.htm?NL=1&CD=432&ID=1555

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