(Cologne cathedral on the Rhine River, August 18, 2005. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski )
Germany’s Catholic Church may approve some so-called morning-after pills for rape victims after a leading cardinal unexpectedly announced they did not induce abortions and could be used in Catholic hospitals.
Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne, an ally of German-born Pope Benedict, changed his policy after two Catholic hospitals refused to treat a rape victim because they could not prescribe the pill, which is taken after sex to avoid pregnancy.
The Catholic Church firmly opposes abortion and artificial birth control. Many Catholics see all emergency contraceptives as abortion-inducing drugs banned by this policy, but Meisner said some prevent fertilisation and could be used in rape cases.
“The German Bishops’ Conference is holding a regular meeting in two weeks and the issue will certainly be on the agenda,” Cologne archdiocese spokeswoman Nele Harbeke said on Monday.
