I would like to address the Pope’s writing to Doctors and Nurses, specifically. [Paragraph 27.] In this section, Pope Paul VI praises “members of the nursing profession who, in the exercise of their calling, endeavor to fulfill the demands of their Christian vocation before any merely human interest.” He suggests they always “support those lines of action which accord with faith,” and “strive to win agreement and support for these policies among their professional colleagues.” Basically, he urges doctors and nurses to avoid birth control, contraceptives, or any other hindrance of procreation. Despite ANY SITUATION that comes their way. And to try to push this thinking on to other Doctors and Nurses as well.
I am a big supporter of following your faith – all the power to you. But I do have issues when faith is forced upon others. In our society, contraceptives are legal. Birth control is legal. People should not be denied access to common entities that are in no way deemed wrong by our state, if they so choose.
One example that comes to mind is RAPE. Obviously, the act was not done out of love --- with the consent of both people. And perhaps this is more common of a problem now than it was in 1968, but it is definitely an issue that comes into conflict with the Churches writing.
The example [linked above] is from Pennsylvania. A women who had been brutally beaten and raped -- came in for the morning after pill – was denied it by a Catholic Doctor. This women was in pain, agony, and was entitled to the care she needed to heal her physical, as well as emotional and mental state. If a medical practitioner cannot aide in the needs of the people, without offending them and causing them further anxiety, harm, or undeserved shame, perhaps they should chose a different field of work.
In the same article, a woman who had relocated to the area asked a doctor to refill her birth control pills. He denied her request – and although she does not share his Catholic beliefs, she said she felt incredibly embarrassed, ashamed, and humiliated. Sure, that is far less severe than the first example, but still – it is common ground with this issue.
The reasoning that the Pope gives for this practice of denying contraceptives: “For then, when married couples ask for their advice, they may be in a position to give them right counsel and to point them in the proper direction.” Sorry buddy. That in no way should mean denying a rape victim. The Church needs to readdress these issues, from perspectives OTHER THAN a happily married couple having sex. And enter our current, harsh reality.
I agree that rape victims should not be denied the Plan B pill because having the child would be a constant reminder of the demoralizing incident that occured in their life. Another thing to note is that not EVERYONE practices in Catholicism so why should they be punished for something that has nothing to do with them?
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