Blog 4

In Germany, there has been controversy surrounding the Catholic Church after two hospitals they run in Cologne turned away a rape victim. They did this because the Catholic Church did not want to counsel her about emergency contraceptives.  The bishop issued a statement on Thursday and he allegedly said that he did not know there were various forms of emergency contraception. After consulting with the Vatican and medical experts, he agreed that drugs that did not abort an already fertilized egg and could be used in cases of rape. The bishop discussed the new policy to the hospitals run by the church. He also made it clear that a long with the morning after pill women will receive “human, medical, psychological and pastoral support.”

When the Catholic Church started facing criticism from turning away rape victims that’s when they decided to make this policy. It took social recognition to recognize that this is a problem. Who knows how long this would have continued if the Catholic Church hadn’t been criticized because of their actions. This is an example of letting your beliefs and values interfere with your job. The job of the hospital was to provide health services to its patients and, in my opinion, that includes giving women contraceptives. The Roman Catholic Church should also be more educated on different contraceptives. The emotional turmoil a woman goes through after rape is already bad enough, I can’t even imagine how hard it would be to get pregnant after. It is the hospitals responsibility to protect it’s patients after they go through such a horrific situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/22/world/europe/germany-morning-after-pill-allowed-for-the-victims-of-rape-bishops-say.html

Morgan Crosier

10:54 pm

02/22/13