By Hilary White
ROME, February 6, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Vatican Radio has withdrawn an invitation to a Swiss pharmaceutical company that manufactures artificial contraceptives. The Chief Executive of Swiss drug company Novartis, Daniel Vasella, was to be “Commentator of the Month” in February, but the offer was rescinded when Vatican Radio officials discovered that the company makes abortifacient drugs.
“The approach of the Vatican to artificial contraception cannot be subject to the smallest doubt,” Vatican Radio said in a statement published on the German-language pages of its website.
Vatican Radio broadcasts in 47 languages, and its programs are sent out on short wave, medium wave, FM, satellite and the internet. Its programming content is produced by two hundred journalists located in 61 different countries.
“We ask Mr Vasella and our listeners to understand this decision. We have only just learnt from the press that Novartis also produces contraceptives,” the statement said.
Novartis has declined to comment.