BRAZILIA, May 12, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Euphemistically dubbed as a “family planning program,” Brazil’s lawmakers launched a program to distribute free contraceptives at the 6,012 hospitals and 63,662 walk-in clinics throughout the country in March.
The controversial program, roundly denounced by the Catholic Church there, includes the abortifacient morning-after pill, despite a Brazilian law prohibiting abortion except in cases of rape or if a mother’s life is in danger because of the pregnancy.
“This is nothing more than medical and moral barbarism, which will pervert our youth,” warned Bishop Rafael Llano Cifuentes, president of the Bishops Committee on Life and the Family for the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops. The free contraceptives program “will promote the sexual perversion of teenagers, which means prostitution,” Bishop Cifuentes added. “It’s like telling teenage girls, go out and enjoy an active sex life for the government will guarantee that you won’t get pregnant.”
According to an Instituto Sensus poll conducted in April, 87% of Brazilians support the use of contraception, while 84% support the free distribution of contraceptives by the government. Eighty-five percent are still opposed to abortion on demand.
tv