Yesterday U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik made a disturbing ruling. In Erickson v. Bartell Drugs, he determined that not treating contraception prescriptions the same as other drugs violates the 1974 Civil Right Act. For us Catholics – and also for many Evangelical Christians – this ruling has enormous implications. It is well known medically that chemical contraception (Norplant, Depo Provera, the Pill, etc.) not only can prevent conception, but also the implantation of a human embryo*. Although very tiny, it is still a human life. You and I were once that size.

Judge Lasnik’s ruling will force employees of Bartell’s Drugs to be involved in something contrary to their consciences. By participating in the employee-medical plan they will in effect be accomplices to chemical abortions. Moreover, a small fraction of every purchase at Bartell Drugs will go toward extinguishing tiny lives.

Back in 1968 when Pope Paul VI spoke out against artificial contraception, he foresaw enormous consequences: divorce, family breakdown, devaluing of women, treating children as commodities, etc. For that reason he reaffirmed what Christians have known and taught from the beginning: that contraception is “intrinsically evil.” Though not an easy teaching, it is from Jesus himself. For a convenient summary of that doctrine, I encourage you to read paragraphs 2366-2372 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is less than two pages and contains much for food for thought and prayer.