Thursday May 6, 2004

Chilean Minister of Health Threatens Mayors: Distribute Morning-After Pill or Face Sanctions

SANTIAGO, Chile, May 5, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Faithful Catholic mayors were warned by the Chilean Minister of Health: distribute the abortifacient morning-after pill in your towns or face sanctions.

Francisco Cardinal Errazuriz of Santiago exhorted the faithful to follow Church teaching and reject the morning-after pill because of its abortifacient properties. Minister of Health Pedro Garcia reacted, saying that the Cardinal's statement, "could be interpreted as an act of rebellion by the Church. But here there has been a separation between Church and state for a long time," he said, as reported by the Catholic News Agency.

Garcia described the Church's position as an "opinion," maintaining that it had no bearing on civil matters, reiterating that mayors have a duty to obey the directive or be punished.

Cardinal Errazuriz told reporters that his support was behind mayors who chose to disobey the civil authority. Bishop Tomislav Koljatic of Linares joined the Cardinal in expressing his support for the municipal officials. "I know them all and I know their good intentions," he said. "They believe that the way to help people is by teaching them about human promotion and the defence of life, and not by attacking life."

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/may/04050606.html

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