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Says that "even if the pill in Plan B is only 'dubiously' abortive, we simply may not use it at all"

World renowned theologian renders possibly decisive blow in debate on Plan B in Catholic hospitals...

"The encyclical of Pope Paul VI on birth control is true and must be followed by mankind. There shall be no rationalization of sin.” - Our Lady of the Roses, October 2, 1976

LifeSiteNews reported on October 23, 2007:

In what is likely the most significant contribution to date in the debate over the use of the so-called "emergency contraception" pills at Catholic hospitals, renowned theologian Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner has written on the subject.  The Doctor of Sacred Theology who has been teaching theology in Franciscan universities and seminaries in the US and Italy for forty years, has questioned the basis on which the whole issue is based - namely whether it is permitted for Catholics to administer Plan B even if it acted as a contraceptive rather than causing abortions.

Fr. Fehlner, who was the North American Superior for the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in the United States from 1996 to 2002, dismissed outright the use of Plan B at Catholic hospitals where there is any doubt as to it possibility of causing an abortion.  "The fact is, if we have any doubt about whether a given action would directly risk someone's life, entail a violation of justice or threaten the salvation of a soul, we may not act on the basis of a scientific probability," he writes.  "That means even if the pill in Plan B is only 'dubiously' abortive, we simply may not use it at all."

The same point in the debate was made by the Catholic Medical Association and by pro-life groups which have been involved in the debate.  However, Catholic bioethicists working for hospitals have advised bishops that it is good enough to have "moral certainty" rather than absolute certainty that the pills will not cause an abortion.

However, beyond the question of the abortifacient effects of the pills, Fr. Fehlner - a familiar name to those who watch EWTN, points out that the Church teaches that contraception is intrinsically evil and thus is not permissible even in cases of rape.

"Prevention of procreation is intrinsically evil prior to and independently of any good end which might be achieved thereby, such as avoiding further violence at the hands of a rapist, explains Fr. Fehlner.  "The woman may certainly resist and should resist to the limit permitted by divine law any sexual assault. But she may not do this by using a means which is intrinsically evil, in this case considering the conception of a child an act of violence justifying the use of contraception."

The stance of Fr. Fehlner calls into question not only the decision of the Connecticut Bishops, but also that of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services put out by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

The document permits contraception in cases of rape.  It says specifically that in cases of women who have been raped: "If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization."

Nonetheless, Fr. Fehlner is standing on firm ground since several Popes have also taught that contraception is "intrinsically evil" and thus impermissible regardless of circumstances.

In Pope John Paul II's encyclical The Splendor of Truth (Aug. 6, 1993) the Pope reaffirmed the intrinsic evil of contraception as taught by Pope Paul VI.  John Paul II wrote: "With regard to intrinsically evil acts, and in reference to contraceptive practices whereby the conjugal act is intentionally rendered infertile, Pope Paul VI teaches: 'Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good, it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it (cf. Rom.3:8) - in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general.'" (n.80).

On March 1, 1997 the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family issued a Vade Mecum for Confessors Concerning Some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life. Included in this document is the following statement: "The Church has always taught the intrinsic evil of contraception, that is, of every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful. This teaching is to be held as definitive and irreformable."

Further, John Paul II was quoted in L'Osservatore Romano on Oct.10, 1983 making this statement: "Contraception is to be judged objectively so profoundly unlawful, as never to be, for any reason, justified. To think or to say the contrary is equal to maintaining that in human life, situations may arise in which it is lawful not to recognize God as God."

Fr. Fehlner warns that should contraception be permitted for hard cases such as rape, the Church's prohibition of it would then logically apply in other 'emergency' circumstances.  "Why, then, on such grounds, should contraception be intrinsically evil for married couples, should they happen to have a sufficiently urgent reason to use these means to avoid contraception?," he asks.

"The 'emergency' consists in the need, not to prevent conception, but to prevent forced intercourse,' writes Fr. Fehlner. "Should this not be possible the resulting conception of a child, like every conception, in itself is a blessing, not an evil to be prevented even by the use of chemical contraceptives which have so far all been shown also to "contracept" via abortion."

If Fr. Fehlner's points on the intrinsically evil nature of contraception even in cases of rape be accepted by the Bishops of the United States, it would require a revision of the Ethical and Religious Directives and put an immediate halt to the use of Plan B at Catholic hospitals for any reason.

Editor's note:  Fr. Fehlner's two essays on the topic also address the 'lotio' and the concepts of natural and unnatural sins which are key to a full Catholic theological understanding of this debate.  Interested readers may read Fr. Fehlner's essays on the subject here:
http://www.airmaria.com/?p=576 (Part 1)
http://www.airmaria.com/?p=602 (Part 2)

******

To express concerns to the Vatican:

Pontifical Academy for Life:
pav@acdlife.va

To email the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith:
Cardinal William Levada
E-mail: cdf@cfaith.va
 

"We warned you over and over again, through years of visitations upon earth--My Mother going to and fro to warn you, that those who have given themselves over to debasement, by the practice of homosexuality, birth control, abortion and all other aberrations that bring sorrow to My Mother's heart--this must be stopped now. There shall be no excuse accepted in Heaven by the saints, nor by My Mother and I, or the Eternal Father and the Holy Ghost, for what you are doing upon earth now." - Jesus, June 6, 1987 

“Permissiveness shall not be accepted by your God. Sin is sin; there is no compromise for sin. Mortal sin is a grievous offense to the Eternal Father. The Commandments shall be followed without permissiveness.” – Jesus, November 21, 1977

 

"The Church has always taught the intrinsic evil of contraception, that is, of every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful. This teaching is to be held as definitive and irreformable."

- "Vademecum for Confessors: Concerning Some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life," #4, Vatican Pontifical Council for the Family, March 1, 1997. 

"From the ethical standpoint the same absolute unlawfulness of abortifacient procedures also applies to distributing, prescribing and taking the morning-after pill. All who, whether sharing the intention or not, directly co-operate with this procedure, are also morally responsible for it."

- “Statement on the So-Called Morning After Pill,” Vatican Pontifical Council for Life, October 31, 2000. 

"It is not possible to anesthetize the conscience, for example, when it comes to molecules whose aim is to stop an embryo implanting or to cut short someone's life... I invite your federation [of pharmacists] to consider conscientious objection which is a right that must be recognized for your profession so you can avoid collaborating, directly or indirectly, in the supply of products which have clearly immoral aims, for example abortion or euthanasia..."

- Pope Benedict XVI, address to Catholic Pharmacists, October 29, 2007

On June 5, 1987, Pope John Paul II warned clergy and theologians of their grave obligation to faithfully transmit the Church’s teaching on contraception:  “A grave responsibility derives from this: those who place themselves in open conflict with the law of God, authentically taught by the Church, guide spouses along a false path. The Church’s teaching on contraception does not belong to the category of matter open to free discussion among theologians. Teaching the contrary amounts to leading the moral consciences of spouses into error.”

- "The Church's teaching on contraception is not a matter for free discussion among theologians," L'Osservatore Romano, July 6, 1987, p. 12.

On September 17, 1983, Pope John Paul II told priests in Rome that “contraception is to be judged objectively so profoundly unlawful as never to be, for any reason, justified. To think or to say the contrary is equal to maintaining that, in human life, situations may arise in which it is lawful not to recognize God as God.”

- quotation from “The Papal Talk of 17 Sept.,” The [Hartford] Catholic Transcript, David Q. Liptak, January 20, 1984.

"In fact, just as man does not have unlimited dominion over his body in general, so also, with particular reason, he has no such dominion over his generative faculties as such, because of their intrinsic ordination towards raising up life, of which God is the principle. 'Human life is sacred,' Pope John XXIII recalled; 'from its very inception it reveals the creating hand of God.'
     "In conformity with these landmarks in the human and Christian vision of marriage, we must once again declare that the direct interruption of the generative process already begun, and, above all, directly willed and procured abortion, even if for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as licit means of regulating birth.
     "Equally to be excluded, as the teaching authority of the Church has frequently declared, is direct sterilization, whether perpetual or temporary, whether of the man or of the woman. Similarly excluded is every action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible."

- Pope Paul VI, encyclical Humanae Vitae, July 25, 1968 (#13-14).

Asked what he would do if pushed on the issue by the state, Bishop Sheridan indicated that he would likely rather have the Church pull out of hospitals than compromise the faith.  "If I personally were being pushed on this and had to make the decision by myself, I'd have to question whether or not we could continue that particular ministry if the state were going to force us to act contrary to Catholic teaching, to the Catholic conscience," he told LifeSiteNews.com.

     Bishop Sheridan concluded, "How could you continue to call yourself Catholic if you were doing things that were contrary to Catholic teaching even if you were being forced by the state to do them?" 

- “Colorado Springs Bishop Says He Does Not and Would Not Permit Plan B in Catholic Hospitals”, LifeSiteNews.com, October 10, 2007.  

The truth is that there is absolutely no doubt about how the Plan B pills work. Just ask the manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals, whose product insert states: "This product works mainly by preventing ovulation (egg release). It may also prevent fertilization of a released egg (joining of sperm and egg) or attachment of a fertilized egg to the uterus (implantation)." (My italics.) It's that third item that makes Plan B an abortion-causing drug. The same can be said for every chemical contraceptive.  

- Human Life International President: "Plan A: Keep 'Plan B' out of Catholic hospitals", LifeSiteNews.com, October 5, 2007. 

“The Vatican did not need to invent any new teaching on the Plan B pills because these pills fall into the category of abortifacient contraception, pure and simple. The consistent teaching of our Church on abortion applies here.”

- Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer, quotation from “A ‘seriously flawed’ decision in Connecticut,” The [Los Angeles] Tidings, October 19, 2007.  

"The [abortion] excommunication affects all those who commit this crime with knowledge of the penalty attached, and thus includes those accomplices without which the crime would not have been committed."
 

- Pope John Paul II, encyclical The Gospel of Life, #62, March 25, 1995.

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The awesome Bayside Prophecies...  https://www.tldm.org/Bayside/default.htm  
These prophecies came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995:

SIXTY MILLION
"I say this for this reason: the Eternal Father is much disturbed at the numbers of abortions being committed throughout your country and the world. These numbers go upwards to fifty to sixty million in one year throughout the world." - Our Lady, June 18, 1986

TREATED AS GARBAGE
"O My child, My tears fall upon you all when I see all of the innocent little babies being slaughtered . . . cast into garbage pails like nothing but dirt and scum. They are living human beings! And all murderers shall get their just recompense." - Our Lady, March 18, 1983

DOCTORS
"Doctors now are profaning their profession, those who have given themselves over to destroying human life in abortions." - Jesus, June 6, 1987

FOULEST OF DEEDS
"Our hearts are torn because of the wanton murder of the young by evil man. Abortion, My children, is murder, the most foulest of deeds, that is punishable by death! And what is worse than death of the soul?
     "I say unto you, as your Mother, that any man or woman who performs or takes part of this abomination of the murder of the unborn shall be given a heavy penance upon earth, or if this penance is not given upon earth, that person found guilty in the eyes of his God shall suffer eternal damnation in the fires of hell." - Our Lady, December 28, 1976 

TORMENT
"The torment that will be visited upon those who murder the innocent shall be eternal damnation and feasting their eyes upon the murdered souls." - Our Lady, May 10, 1972

SAINTS CRY OUT FOR PUNISHMENT
"Oh, the greatest of sorrow is upon Our hearts because of the loss of the little ones. Your country, My child, and many countries throughout your world, shall do great penance for the murders of the young, the abortions, the murders being committed in your country. The saints in Heaven cry out for punishment upon a wicked generation. Never in the past, in all the slaughters of history, has there been such wanton killing of the young and the innocent! I say unto you, as your God, you shall be brought down to your knees! You, evil mankind, you shall be cleansed in a bloodbath!” - Jesus, February 1, 1977

Directives from Heaven... https://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm

D23 - Abortion PDF
D28 - Hell  PDF
D164 - Heresy PDF
D183 - Sex Education    PDF
D196 - Life Begins at Conception    PDF

Articles…

Contraception:

Pope John Paul II: "Contraception is so profoundly unlawful as never to be, for any reason, justified"
https://www.tldm.org/News11/PopeJohnPaulIIContraceptionNeverJustified.htm

Dietrich von Hildebrand: Why artificial birth control is sinful
https://www.tldm.org/News11/ContraceptionDietrichVonHildebrand.htm

Pope Paul was prophetic
https://www.tldm.org/news4/contraception.htm

Contraception is intrinsically evil
https://www.tldm.org/news6/contraception.htm

Abortion and the contraceptive mentality
https://www.tldm.org/news4/contraception%5Fabortion.htm

Confirmed deaths caused by RU-486
https://www.tldm.org/News7/AbortionRU-486.htm

Abortion Pill, RU-486, kills 5 women in one month
https://www.tldm.org/news8/AbortionPill.RU-486KillsWomen.htm

Plan B abortifacient:

Pope tells pharmacists not to dispense drugs to inhibit implantation
https://www.tldm.org/News11/PopeDoNotDispenseDrugsThatInhibitImplantation.htm

Emergency "Contraception" and Early Abortion
https://www.tldm.org/News11/EmergencyContraceptionAndEarlyAbortion.htm

World renowned theologian renders possibly decisive blow in debate on Plan B in Catholic hospitals
https://www.tldm.org/News11/DecisiveBlowInPlanBDebate.htm

Human Life International President: "Plan A: Keep 'Plan B' out of Catholic hospitals"
https://www.tldm.org/News11/Keep'PlanB'OutOfCatholicHospitals.htm

Wisconsin Bishop breaks from conference and opposes emergency contraception in Catholic hospitals
https://www.tldm.org/News11/WisconsinBishopOpposesEmergencyContraception.htm

Plan B for rape victims: a pig with earrings
https://www.tldm.org/News11/PlanBPigWithEarrings.htm

A 'seriously flawed' decision in Connecticut
https://www.tldm.org/News11/SeriouslyFlawedDecisionInCT.htm

US Court rules pharmacists must have rights of conscience respected
https://www.tldm.org/News11/Pharmacists'RightsOfConscienceMustBeRespected.htm

Australia's Cardinal Pell: Dispels "heresy" that Catholics can approve contraception "in good conscience"
https://www.tldm.org/News11/CardinalPellHeresyThatCatholicsCanApproveContraception.htm

Colorado Springs Bishop says he does not and would not permit Plan B in Catholic hospitals
https://www.tldm.org/News11/ColoradoSpringsBishopPlanB.htm

Catholic Media Coalition asks Connecticut Bishops to rescind approval of abortifacient Plan B
https://www.tldm.org/News11/CatholicMediaCoalitionConnecticutBishops.htm

Bishops of Connecticut: Are you willing to risk murder?
https://www.tldm.org/News11/BishopsWillingToRiskMurder.htm

U.S. Catholic Health Association giving flawed advice on morning after pill to Catholic hospitals
https://www.tldm.org/News11/CHAGivingFlawedAdvice.htm

UK Cardinal standing firm in his refusal to allow a famous Catholic hospital to make abortion referrals or provide contraceptives
https://www.tldm.org/News11/UKCardinalCatholicHospital.htm

Point man for Connecticut Bishops on Plan B 'emergency contraception' totally confused on issue
https://www.tldm.org/News11/PointManForCTBishopsTotallyConfused.htm

Connecticut bishops allow Plan B in Catholic hospitals for rape--Catholic Medical Association opposed
https://www.tldm.org/News11/ConnecticutBishopsAllowPlanBinCatholicHospitalsForRape.htm

Connecticut bishops should reconsider: Russian roulette with the lives of babies is unacceptable
https://www.tldm.org/News11/ConnecticutBishopsRussianRoulette.htm

Online video: Noted endocrinologist explains how the birth control pill causes abortion
https://www.tldm.org/News11/BirthControlPillCausesAbortion.htm

Plan B manufacturer admits morning after pill can cause death of an embryo
https://www.tldm.org/News9/ContraceptionDeathOfEmbryo.htm

Advisory doctor to FDA confirms morning-after pill acts as abortifacient
https://www.tldm.org/News9/ContraceptionFDAadvisor.htm

Conscientious objection to Plan B and abortifacients:

Washington pharmacists win victory on law forcing Plan B prescriptions
https://www.tldm.org/News11/WashingtonPharmacistsWinVictory.htm

Pope tells pharmacists not to dispense drugs to inhibit implantation
https://www.tldm.org/News11/PopeDoNotDispenseDrugsThatInhibitImplantation.htm

US Court rules pharmacists must have rights of conscience respected
https://www.tldm.org/News11/Pharmacists'RightsOfConscienceMustBeRespected.htm

Pharmacists sue Washington state for forcing them to sell morning after pill
https://www.tldm.org/News11/ContraceptionPharmacistsSueWashingtonState.htm

Pharmacist vows he will not dispense abortifacient despite job loss
https://www.tldm.org/News8/PharmacistAbortifacient.htm

UK Cardinal standing firm in his refusal to allow a famous Catholic hospital to make abortion referrals or provide contraceptives
https://www.tldm.org/News11/UKCardinalCatholicHospital.htm

Colorado Springs Bishop says he does not and would not permit Plan B in Catholic hospitals
https://www.tldm.org/News11/ColoradoSpringsBishopPlanB.htm

The Church and the State today: What belongs to Caesar and what doesn't, Archbishop Chaput (PDF file)
http://www.archden.org/images/ArchbishopCorner/Addresses/church&statetoday_newyork10.26.07.pdf

Humanae Vitae:

Bishop Vasa: Catholic disobedience on contraception has caused "tremendous harm to society"
https://www.tldm.org/News11/CatholicDisobedienceOnContraception.htm

Outside Links…

Contraception:

Homicidal deception: The growing debate over abortifacients posing as 'contraceptives', The New American, January 21, 2008
http://www.thenewamerican.com/node/6794

Father Fehlner Weighs In on Plan B In Connecticut
http://www.airmaria.com/?p=576

Plan B betrayal, First Things magazine
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=441

Plan B: A Grave Threat to Women's Health, Family Research Council
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IF06H01&f=WA06H29

Contraceptive Claims, Catholic Answers
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9202fea2.asp

Rejecting Humanae Vitae is a Sin, by Paul Likoudis
http://www.catholic-pages.com/morality/hv-angelini.asp

Infallibility of Humanae Vitae, by Fr Brian W. Harrison, O.S.
http://www.catholic-pages.com/morality/hvinfallible.asp

Emergency Contraception: The Morning-After Pill (American Life League)
http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10130

Pharmacists agree with Pope on contraception, [New York] Newsday, October 30, 2007
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-lipharm305438291oct30,0,3666669.story

Pope Benedict challenges pharmacists to refuse to dispense abortion pill, Catholic News Agency, October 29, 2007
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10813

Pope Wants Pharmacists To Refuse Emergency Contraceptive Prescriptions, My Fox St. Louis, October 29, 2007
http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4776777&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Pope to Druggists: Shun Immoral Scripts, Associated Press, October 29, 2007
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jw4DfRJJM5LHehUvvOG8BRS1VtuwD8SJ2J8G0

The bishops cave, The [Waterbury] Republican American, October 1, 2007
http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/10/01/opinion/288573.txt

Contraception: Fatal to the Faith and to Eternal Life,  John A. Hardon, S.J.

Is Contraception Gravely Sinful Matter? by Fr Lino Ciccone CM (from L'Osservatore Romano, 4 December 1996)

Faithfulness to the Divine Plan in the Transmission of Life Pope John Paul II's General Audience (8 August 1984)

Humanae Vitae Pope Paul VI - Encyclical - On the Regulation of Births (25 July 1968)

Contraception Versus Abortion: A Comparison and Some Implications, By Msgr. Vincent Foy, PhD.

Contraception and Catholic Teaching, Donald DeMarco, Ph.D.

God and the Pill, Terence J. Hughes

Abortifacients, Charles M. Mangan

Abortion:

Sin to vote for pro-abortion politicians? Fr. Matthew Habiger
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/SINTOVOT.HTM

“Whoever is not with Me, is against Me,” Archbishop William Levada
http://www.ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/LEVADA.HTM

Declaration on procured abortion (CDF, November 18, 1974)
http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFABORT.HTM

The Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II, March 25, 1995
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/JP2EVANG.HTM

We encourage everyone to print or email copies of this web page to all the Bishops and all the clergy.  Also, email or send this web page to the news media and as many people as possible.

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Jesus - "Pray and wear your sacramentals. And, also, My children, I ask you again to place a crucifix upon your door. Both front and back doors must have a crucifix. I say this to you because there will be carnage within your areas, and this will pass you by if you keep your crucifix upon your doors." (6-30-84) (Testimonies of lives and homes saved by the crucifixes.)  https://www.tldm.org/news/crucifix.htm 

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Our Lord stated we must have crucifixes upon the outside of all of our outside doors. In the "Heaven’s Home Protection Packet" there are instructions, four crucifixes, and a tube of special cement for wooden or metal crucifixes. Wooden crucifixes adhere better to the doors when the aluminum strap is removed from the back. Put a light coat of cement on the back of the crucifix and then press it to the outside of the door. If you have any problems, you can call us at 616-698-6448 for assistance. This Heaven’s Home Protection Packet is available for a donation of $5.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Send $8.00 to TLD Ministries, P.O. Box 40, Lowell, MI 49331. Item # P15  (Order Form)

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"My children, My little humble children, I appeal to you as your Mother, go forward on foot, knock on the doors; bring the light to your brothers and sisters.  For those who have been given great grace, much is expected of them." - Our Lady of the Roses,  May 26, 1976

"As disciples of the latter days, My children, much shall be asked of you, but I assure you:  all that you give in faith and charity shall be returned to you threefold." - Jesus, June 1, 1978